Hitman: World of Assassination Reaches 75 Million Players, a Monumental Milestone for IO Interactive
IO Interactive proudly announced that Hitman: World of Assassination has surpassed a remarkable 75 million players. This achievement solidifies its position as potentially the studio's most successful title to date. The impressive player count includes those who downloaded the free starter pack and those who accessed the game via Xbox Game Pass during its two-year availability.
It's important to note that World of Assassination isn't a single game but a compilation of the latest Hitman trilogy. Following the release of Hitman 3, IO Interactive cleverly bundled the three titles into one package, while maintaining the option for individual purchases. This combined trilogy relaunched on PC and consoles in January 2023 and expanded to the Meta Quest 3 in September 2024.
On January 10th, IO Interactive celebrated this "monumental" achievement on Twitter, highlighting the studio's robust current business performance. While specific contribution breakdowns weren't provided, Hitman 3 likely played a significant role, given its strong sales performance exceeding its predecessors in certain markets like the UK.
Xbox Game Pass and the Free Starter Pack: Key Drivers of Success
The game's two-year presence on Xbox Game Pass, concluding in January 2024, significantly boosted player numbers. Further contributing to this impressive milestone is the free starter pack offered since the 2021 release. Free demos for the first two trilogy entries also broadened the game's reach.
Hitman Franchise on Hiatus, New Projects Underway
While Hitman: World of Assassination continues to receive regular content updates (including elusive targets), IO Interactive's current focus on the franchise appears limited to these smaller content drops. The studio is currently dedicating its efforts to two new projects: Project 007, a James Bond game in development since 2020, and Project Fantasy, a new IP announced in 2023, venturing into a fantastical setting.
