Next Hitman will have Square Enix Montreal's own spin

Hitman creator IO Interactive is moving onto something new after Hitman: Absolution, with the series continuing at Square Enix's new Montreal studio. But how will this crazy arrangement work, and who will shape the future of Hitman? IO has answered a few questions.

14

Hitman creator IO Interactive is moving onto something new after Hitman: Absolution, with the series continuing at Square Enix's new Montreal studio. But how will this crazy arrangement work, and who will shape the future of Hitman? IO has answered a few questions.

"It's like with Treyarch and Infinity Ward," Absolution director Tore Blystad told Official PlayStation Magazine, drawing a comparison with Call of Duty's pattern of alternating developers. "You have an IP that has been developed. They will feed off each other, as well as somethings that stand out. I think with these big franchises it takes a long time to develop just one game. If you can, work a little bit in parallel at least and help each other out."

Square Enix Montreal will have its own take on the murder simulator, though, and Blystad likens it to the Alien series. "Every time someone gets their hands on a franchise they do something different. So rather than doing the same thing again you get another take on the character from a fresh perspective."

It won't be left entirely to its own devices, mind, as IO will still watch over the series. Blystad says several of the studio's "key developers" are from IO, so it's not a wholly new team either.

Our Andrew was jolly pleased with Absolution, so it'll be interesting to see how Square Enix Montreal's first entry shapes up. Not everyone is thrilled with how Absolution shook up the Hitman formula, though.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    November 22, 2012 11:00 AM

    Alice O'Connor posted a new article, Next Hitman will have Square Enix Montreal's own spin.

    Hitman creator IO Interactive is moving onto something new after Hitman: Absolution, with the series continuing at Square Enix's new Montreal studio. But how will this crazy arrangement work, and who will shape the future of Hitman? IO has answered a few questions.

    • reply
      November 22, 2012 11:20 AM

      [deleted]

      • reply
        November 22, 2012 7:04 PM

        really the only appropriate response is lol

    • reply
      November 22, 2012 12:13 PM

      fuck yes i love annualizing franchises forever until everyone becomes fucking sick of it

      • reply
        November 22, 2012 10:27 PM

        hitman has a long way to iterate though - lot of stuff still janky after all these years

    • reply
      November 22, 2012 12:17 PM

      NO.

    • reply
      November 22, 2012 12:30 PM

      Don't get with the times, man. Stay the hell away from the times.

    • reply
      November 22, 2012 12:47 PM

      we need somebody to take this series out silently before it's too late

    • reply
      November 22, 2012 12:51 PM

      So is this running alongside Eidos Montreal or what?

      • reply
        November 22, 2012 12:59 PM

        Yes it's a seperate studio.

        • reply
          November 22, 2012 2:18 PM

          But what are the connections? Who's doing the hiring? Because Eidos Montreal fucking rocks, but I have no idea how much of a hand Squeenix had in constructing that studio.

          Basically what I'm saying is that I'm cautiously optimistic because you Canadians seem to be doing something right.

        • reply
          November 22, 2012 8:22 PM

          Are you guys happy about this? Hmmm more Hitman is good just as long as the quality stays the same or better. Hope this is not a bad thing for your team.

          • reply
            November 23, 2012 12:05 AM

            I'm all for it, can't really comment beyond that :)

    • reply
      November 22, 2012 8:25 PM

      Hitman: Dance Festival Amazing Shot

    • reply
      November 22, 2012 10:42 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      November 23, 2012 4:07 AM

      New Freedom Fighters!

      • reply
        November 23, 2012 4:10 AM

        yes plz

        Such a fantastic game.

        • reply
          November 23, 2012 4:13 AM

          I loved that game. Had some fantastic multiplayer as well

    • reply
      November 26, 2012 11:47 AM

      This wasn't a terrible game by any account, but it lacked the luster of freedom in the missions like hitman blood money. I'm sure they are getting sick of that comparison but come on, if you're working on a game that had something going for it keep going with it and improve it not take away things that made the game popular.

Hello, Meet Lola