Hitman creators' upcoming projects won't necessarily be live service games

Like the two previous installments, Hitman 3 is a live service game, regularly updated with new features and scheduled events. The creators at IO Interactive emphasize that the team's upcoming games won't necessarily be based on this model.

“They could, but not necessarily,” said Travis Barbour, who handles community relations at the studio, when asked whether future games would use a formula similar to Agent 47’s latest adventures.

“It depends on the game. The system worked for Hitman and aligned with how we wanted to improve the series. However, that’s not to say it will be our default model.”

In the same interview, executive producer Forest Swartout Large emphasized that the advantage of live service games is focusing attention on specific elements while working on a project. The creators can promise players that they will make new content and features available post-launch, while focusing on polishing core gameplay mechanics.

“This model also allows us to work closely with the fans to truly listen to them. We can talk about a thing and observe the reaction... but the real magic happens when we release the product and get feedback to see what works and what doesn't. Later, over a year or two, we can improve various aspects.”

Hitman 3 will be released on January 20 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. IO Interactive recently announced that it is working on a James Bond game.