Hitman 3 has finally arrived, showcasing more of the peerless stealth-action style IO Interactive has become famous for. This latest outing is perhaps Agent 47’s biggest yet, and it also spells the end of the World of Assassination trilogy. But is Hitman 3 the last game in the series? Now that it’s secured the Bond license, will IO be making more Hitman games in the future?
Is Hitman 3 the last game? Will Agent 47 return?
Hitman 3 is not the last game in the series. It is simply the final game in the World of Assassination trilogy. However, now that they’ve secured the James Bond license, it may be a while before the developers at IO Interactive make another Hitman game.
In other words, don’t worry: Agent 47 isn’t going anywhere. Despite having a long and storied past, the Hitman series really hit its stride with the release of Hitman (2016). That game kicked off the so-called World of Assassination trilogy, which altogether represents a three-part experience. This design is one reason why you’re able to import Hitman 1 and 2 levels into Hitman 3.
Still, IO Interactive has been working toward broader goals. It managed to become an independent studio following a Square Enix buyout deal in 2017, taking with it the rights to the Hitman IP. But the developers wanted to be known as more than “the team that makes Hitman,” which may be why it limited the new releases to the World of Assassination trilogy. With that trilogy now complete, the devs can start looking in new directions. That new direction, of course, is Project 007.
However, that’s not to say that the team is done with Agent 47. Speaking in an interview with Game Informer, IO’s co-owner Christian Elverdam said the end of the trilogy doesn’t spell the end of Hitman “at all.” IO Interactive still owns the IP, and it just so happens that the most recent games have been very well received. It’d be foolish to walk away on such a hot property.
Make no mistake: Hitman 3 is not the last game in the series. Agent 47 is very likely to return; we just don’t know when. Thankfully, until we hear more from the developers, we still have a huge assortment of locations to explore and targets to eliminate.
