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Edge_Maverick · May 11, 2017

I wonder what this all means considering IO was hiring for a new IP and Hitman Season 2 was greenlighted (or am I imagining stuff?).

Source: http://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/news/pdf/20170511_01en.pdf

// Mod Edit:

Since people are asking about sales:

Hitman Absolution: Owners: 3,020,229 ± 50,168
Hitman: Owners: 631,227 ± 23,003

Hitman Absolution also shipped 3.6 million in a few months whereas presumably Hitman is no where near that.

DKHF · May 11, 2017

Oh shit, wow.

I didn't play Hitman but I know it was well received by a lot of people, seeing this obviously it wasn't making enough money. So as far as we know the only AAA non-Marvel game the western studios of Square Enix are working on is Shadow of the Tomb Raider now.

Amir0x · May 11, 2017

After the latest Hitman finally stuck its landing and was so extraordinarily high quality!?

No good things are allowed to exist in this world forever

serenewarfare · May 11, 2017

Does Square own the Hitman IP?

So does that mean Season 2 is dead?

So many questions. Really wonder why they are choosing now to cut bait.

John Caboose · May 11, 2017

It's time for Starbreeze or Nordic Games to swoop in and secure IO funding.

DMONKUMA · May 11, 2017

Dang man

Metalmarc · May 11, 2017

Aww

Hitman was my fave game of 2016.

salromano · May 11, 2017

Dang, was literally just asking in the Media Create thread if this means what I think it does:

salromano said:
Hey, folks who understand this stuff, Square Enix losses time: http://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/news/pdf/20170511_01en.pdf

Am I reading this right? Square Enix is selling IO Interactive? I'm reading that they've withdrawn from the company and are seeking investors to keep it alive?

Leafhopper · May 11, 2017

What the fuck

Calm Mind · May 11, 2017

AlfonzoPalutena · May 11, 2017

Wow, didn't even realize SE was in financial trouble at all. If anything I thought they'd been on sort of a good streak since 2013/14

That's a shame about Hitman though, I'm guessing IO can't use the IP at all while being independent of Square, so the series is dead in the water for now.

Maybe SE is giving the ongoing game a new developer? Microsoft did it with Killer Instinct and it worked out, it can happen

wapplew · May 11, 2017

IO up for sale?

ScientificPizza · May 11, 2017

whoa what the fuck

AlfonzoPalutena said:
Wow, didn't even realize SE was in financial trouble at all. If anything I thought they'd been on sort of a good streak since 2013/14

That's a shame about Hitman though, I'm guessing IO can't use the IP at all while being independent of Square, so the series is dead in the water for now.

Maybe SE is giving the ongoing game a new developer? Microsoft did it with Killer Instinct and it worked out, it can happen

They spend too long on high budget games and then expect their other games to move insane numbers to prop them up. Never forget that the tomb raider reboot selling over 3 million was a huge disappointment to them

Prompto · May 11, 2017

Sad news

Primus · May 11, 2017

fffffffuuuuuuuuuuu...

PROh1bited · May 11, 2017

So did they own IO? And now they're selling it?

BeardyChan · May 11, 2017

Not as bad as it sounds guys.

Life finds a way

IdreamofHIME · May 11, 2017

They finally make a good game and this is the reward?
Tomb Raider and Deus Ex studios shitting themselves?

MayMay · May 11, 2017

WTF no i want more hitman

brickarts295 · May 11, 2017

Moon_frogger · May 11, 2017

Whatttt? Hitman was so good tho

Toki767 · May 11, 2017

Time to uh...start thinking of Hitman-like names huh.

Mechazawa · May 11, 2017

Did Hitman do poorly? Did it do okay, but not good enough to warrant continual investment? Why was a season 2 greenlit? Is season 2 on fire?

Hell's goin' on.

Nirolak · May 11, 2017

Hitman didn't actually seem to sell all that well despite the reception.

AcademicSaucer · May 11, 2017

Toki767 said:
Time to uh...start thinking of Hitman-like names huh.

Sicario

serenewarfare · May 11, 2017

Also, didn't Hitman do pretty well for them? Kind of strange that I/O is the one to bite the dust while Eidos Montreal is able to survive the underperformance of Deus Ex.

Roboculus · May 11, 2017

What the hell? I thought Hitman sold well?

edit: I guess not good enough it seems. Damn, I really hope IO is able to partner up with someone else. Would be a hell of a loss to not continue after how well Season 1 turned out.

Aangster · May 11, 2017

IO just moved to new offices, fucking hell Square Enix. Invested too much in Final Fantasy?

Monty Mole · May 11, 2017

Hitman went ignored by so many due to its episodic nature, and then the retail release came and went with a whimper and no promotion. It's a shame.

dreamfall · May 11, 2017

Hitman was so incredible - maybe the monthly content update didn't pan out sales wise how they wished. IO created one hell of a game.

Edge_Maverick · May 11, 2017

AlfonzoPalutena said:
Wow, didn't even realize SE was in financial trouble at all. If anything I thought they'd been on sort of a good streak since 2013/14

That's a shame about Hitman though, I'm guessing IO can't use the IP at all while being independent of Square, so the series is dead in the water for now.

Maybe SE is giving the ongoing game a new developer? Microsoft did it with Killer Instinct and it worked out, it can happen

Oh they actually achieved record income and profits for FY 2017, very healthy right now, but this news is something no one was expecting considering they were happy of Hitman Season 1 (at least this what everyone was imagining).

astrogamer · May 11, 2017

IdreamofHIME said:
They finally make a good game and this is the reward?
Tomb Raider and Deus Ex studios shitting themselves?

That's why they are working on Marvel games.

Leafhopper · May 11, 2017

Nirolak said:
Hitman didn't actually seem to sell all that well despite the reception.

Damn, well that sucks.

Nick_C · May 11, 2017

Could be misinterpreting the last paragraph in the screenshot, but it sounds like Square Enix is looking into potential buyers to both minimize loss and make sure that IO stays on their feet.

xrnzaaas · May 11, 2017

I really really hope that IO lands on their feet. I need than Hitman season 2 goddamit!

Jangowuzhere · May 11, 2017

Honestly not surprised

I never got the impression that the game was selling particularly well.

Amir0x · May 11, 2017

Aangster said:
IO just moved to new offices, fucking hell Square Enix. Invested too much in Final Fantasy?

And they allowed Tomb Raider to get fucked by a team who has no idea what ever made Tomb Raider compelling in the first place.

SquareEnix better get on the ball quick. Games these days cost a lot of money, they can't afford to be this behind the times.

Ninjimbo · May 11, 2017

Guess that's what happens when your game bombs. It's too bad because Hitman 2016 was high quality. There just isn't a lot of room for hardcore stealth games.

michaelius · May 11, 2017

Nirolak said:
Hitman didn't actually seem to sell all that well despite the reception.

It had good reception ? I only remember first part being bad technically on PC.

Sycoraxic98 · May 11, 2017

xrnzaaas said:
I really really hope that IO lands on their feet. I need than Hitman season 2 goddamit!

If IO lands safely, they can't make another Hitman (without Square). If Square-Enix makes a Hitman Season 2, it won't be IO.

doctorcdcs · May 11, 2017

oh boy.

i hope things work themselves out for everyone involved... and IO keeps making Hitman games

duckroll · May 11, 2017

Goddamn. I wonder if they'll be selling the Hitman IP along with IO Interactive. Hard to see any publisher interested in buying the studio without Hitman.

So.... Season 2... RIP?

Sycoraxic98 said:
If IO lands safely, they can't make another Hitman. If Square-Enix makes a Hitman Season 2, it won't be IO.

Not necessarily. Square Enix might not be able to successfully sell IO without Hitman.

notaskwid · May 11, 2017

Hitman is just not that popular of a series I guess.

DMONKUMA · May 11, 2017

They were working on a new IP as well right?

Mario007 · May 11, 2017

And so Square Enix Europe (ie Eidos, ie Phill Rogers) kills another franchise.

Nirolak · May 11, 2017

For comparison:

Hitman Absolution: Owners: 3,020,229 ± 50,168
Hitman: Owners: 631,227 ± 23,003

Hitman Absolution also shipped 3.6 million in a few months whereas presumably Hitman is no where near that.

Santar · May 11, 2017

Good, maybe the next Hitman won't be riddled with useless online only stuff, Squeenix is seemingly obsessed on having those kinds of stuff in all their western developed games.
Wait, IO still owns the Hitman IP right?

jj984jj · May 11, 2017

serenewarfare said:
Does Square own the Hitman IP?

So does that mean Season 2 is dead?

So many questions. Really wonder why they are choosing now to cut bait.

Hitman undoubtedly belonged to Eidos, and now Square-Enix as a result.

xrnzaaas · May 11, 2017

Sycoraxic98 said:
If IO lands safely, they can't make another Hitman (without Square). If Square-Enix makes a Hitman Season 2, it won't be IO.

Is it confirmed that the rights to the franchise belong to Square Enix?

Screaming Meat · May 11, 2017

Damn.

SOMEONE SAVE IOI!

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