The Hitman franchise just hit a major milestone, and IO Interactive is celebrating with some big news. After 25 years of creative stealth kills and sandbox gameplay, CEO Hakan Abrak confirmed what fans have been waiting to hear: Hitman 4 is absolutely happening. No maybes, no hints – just a straight answer that another installment is in the pipeline.
The timing couldn’t be better. Hitman: World of Assassination has reached over 75 million players worldwide, with more than 25 million copies sold. The game consistently pulls in over a million active players each month, proving that even years after launch, Agent 47’s appeal hasn’t faded. This isn’t just nostalgia keeping the lights on – it’s a genuinely thriving community that keeps coming back for more.
What the CEO Actually Said
In an interview with Variety, Abrak didn’t dance around the question. “So of course there will be more Hitman,” he stated clearly. But fans shouldn’t expect an immediate release. The studio is juggling three major productions right now, and Hitman 4 has to wait its turn behind some other priorities.
First up is the co-op mode for Hitman: World of Assassination, which Abrak described as a “really, really good extension to the universe” that will introduce new mechanics and combinations. After that launches, the team plans to share more details about the next mainline Hitman game. The CEO emphasized that Hitman has been their flagship title throughout IO Interactive’s history, calling it a “labor of love.”
Eminem Joins the World of Assassination
Right on cue for the 25th anniversary, IO Interactive dropped a collaboration nobody saw coming. Eminem entered Hitman: World of Assassination as both himself and his alter ego Slim Shady in a limited-time Elusive Target mission running through December 31, 2025.
The premise is perfectly bizarre. Following his attempt to bury Slim Shady in his latest album “The Death of Slim Shady,” Eminem recruits Agent 47 to permanently erase his past. The mission takes place in a redesigned Hokkaido medical facility transformed into the Popsomp Hills Asylum, complete with surreal spaces and unexpected turns. Players can also grab Eminem-themed cosmetic items including the MC Fit and a Jar of Mom’s Spaghetti Sauce.
What’s Keeping IO Interactive Busy
Hitman 4 isn’t the only thing on IO Interactive’s plate. The studio is deep into development on three major projects, which explains why the next Hitman isn’t coming immediately.
The biggest priority is 007 First Light, their James Bond game scheduled for March 2026. Abrak confirmed the game is complete and playable from start to finish after six years of development focused on character development, story, and gameplay mechanics. The team is now in the polish phase, fixing bugs and refining the experience. This marks IO’s first licensed IP after 25 years of building original franchises.
Then there’s Project Fantasy, a multiplayer fantasy RPG that represents a major departure from IO’s usual themes. Details remain scarce, but the studio describes it as incredibly ambitious and vibrant, leaning away from darker fantasy tones. The project will let IO work closely with its community, something they’ve mastered with Hitman over the past eight years. Some reports suggest it could feature a player taking on a Dungeon Master role, with experimental Hitman modes like Ghost Mode and Freelancer potentially informing the design.
How Hitman Evolved Over 25 Years
The original Hitman launched in 2000 with a clear vision that took decades to fully realize. Chief Creative Officer Christian Elverdam explained that early games were held back by technical limitations and rigid mechanics. Back then, IO didn’t even have dedicated game designers or level designers – artists handled game design responsibilities, creating what one developer called a “garage band feeling.”
The franchise experimented over the years, with Hitman: Absolution standing out as notably different with its story-driven approach. While divisive at the time, those experiments improved mechanics, AI, and controls. When combined with the sandbox approach of Blood Money, it established the foundation for the modern trilogy that started in 2016.
Today’s Hitman is everything IO wanted it to be from the beginning. The elaborate missions with countless options give developers massive creative freedom. They can create wild scenarios like a martial arts tournament featuring Bruce Lee as an Elusive Target by modifying parts of existing locations without rebuilding everything from scratch. Each new target adds to the universe without requiring a complete overhaul.
What Makes Hitman So Replayable
The secret to Hitman’s longevity isn’t complicated – it’s the freedom. Every mission becomes a sandbox where players experiment with different approaches, weapons, disguises, and execution methods. The game doesn’t force you down a specific path. Want to use a single apricot to take down a target? Go for it. Prefer a loud, chaotic approach? That works too.
IO Interactive supports this with constant live content additions including new locations, contracts, seasonal events, and celebrity collaborations. The Elusive Target system keeps things fresh by introducing time-limited missions featuring everyone from Bruce Lee to Jean-Claude Van Damme to Eminem. These missions expand the narrative without requiring massive content drops.
The introduction of Freelancer mode added rogue-like elements and strategic planning with persistent, infinitely replayable gameplay. Combined with Contracts mode, Escalations, and Elusive Target Arcades, there’s always something new to try even if you’ve completed the main campaign multiple times.
FAQs
Is Hitman 4 officially confirmed?
Yes. IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak confirmed in an interview with Variety that there will definitely be another Hitman game. He stated “of course there will be more Hitman” and confirmed a next installment is in development, though no release date has been announced yet.
When will Hitman 4 be released?
No release date has been announced. IO Interactive is currently focused on launching co-op mode for Hitman: World of Assassination in 2026 and releasing 007 First Light in March 2026. More information about Hitman 4 will come after these projects are complete.
What is the Eminem mission in Hitman about?
The limited-time Elusive Target mission “Eminem vs. Slim Shady” features Eminem hiring Agent 47 to eliminate his alter ego Slim Shady. Available through December 31, 2025, the mission takes place in a redesigned Hokkaido medical facility transformed into Popsomp Hills Asylum with surreal environments.
How many people play Hitman: World of Assassination?
Hitman: World of Assassination has reached over 75 million players worldwide with more than 25 million copies sold. The game maintains over 1 million active players per month as of December 2024, making it the most successful Hitman game of all time.
What is 007 First Light?
007 First Light is IO Interactive’s upcoming James Bond game scheduled for release in March 2026. It represents IO’s most ambitious project and their first licensed IP. The game is currently complete and playable from start to finish, now in the polish and bug-fixing phase after six years of development.
Will Hitman: World of Assassination get co-op mode?
Yes. IO Interactive confirmed a co-op mode is coming to Hitman: World of Assassination in 2026. CEO Hakan Abrak described it as a “really, really good extension to the universe” that will introduce new mechanics and combinations to the game.
What is Project Fantasy?
Project Fantasy is an online multiplayer fantasy RPG in development at IO Interactive. Details remain limited, but it’s described as ambitious, vibrant, and a departure from IO’s usual themes. The project may include a player taking on a Dungeon Master role and will allow IO to work closely with its community.
Conclusion
Twenty-five years after Agent 47 first stepped into the shadows, the Hitman franchise is more alive than ever. With over 75 million players, consistent monthly engagement exceeding one million active users, and a steady stream of creative collaborations like the Eminem mission, IO Interactive has transformed its garage band project into one of gaming’s most respected stealth franchises. The confirmation of Hitman 4, combined with the upcoming co-op mode and the studio’s work on 007 First Light and Project Fantasy, shows IO isn’t slowing down. Fans might need to wait a bit longer for the next mainline entry, but when it arrives, it will be backed by decades of experience perfecting the art of creative assassination. For now, there’s plenty to keep players busy in World of Assassination while IO shapes the future of Agent 47’s deadly career.