Hitman Is Still Going as IOI Confirms a New Game Is on the Way

According to IGN, IO Interactive has confirmed that the Hitman series will continue, even after a five-year gap since the last main release. CEO Hakan Abrak said that gap was never a deliberate pause; the studio has been building two new projects from scratch at the same time: 007 First Light and a fantasy game that is already “very far along.”

That should calm a lot of long-time fans. With IOI spending the last few years on 007 while also pushing a separate fantasy title, it was easy to assume the familiar bald assassin had been pushed offstage for good. This update makes the situation much clearer: Hitman was never shelved, and it was never abandoned. It has simply been waiting behind two large projects, with the series set to move forward once resources open up again.

More importantly, Abrak specifically said the team is “very excited to get back and spend more time into Hitman.” That matters because it points to more than a routine sequel. IOI is already talking about upgrades and innovation at the systems level, and that is where the real opportunity is. The original report also notes that future entries could keep stealth as the core identity while improving weaker areas such as combat.

That is the key point. Hitman has never been at its best because it lets players win straightforward gunfights. Its strength is the way every level feels like a box of tools: disguises, poison, staged accidents, crowd manipulation, and the ability to erase a target in plain sight. That kind of system-driven design is still rare. But when a plan breaks down, direct combat has not always matched the same standard. If IOI is openly emphasizing system upgrades and innovation, it suggests the studio knows the next Hitman cannot rely on the old formula alone.

IOI’s broader lineup also makes this easier to read. 007 First Light is the studio’s big play for a wider audience, while the fantasy project opens an entirely different lane. Hitman, meanwhile, remains the studio’s proven signature series, just not the one currently in front of the curtain. Abrak was clear that once those newer projects reach a certain stage, the studio will shift resources back to building the next generation of Hitman.

For returning players, the takeaway is simple: there is no need to assume the series has been frozen indefinitely. For newer players, this is a good window to catch up on recent Hitman games and see how refined IOI’s sandbox level design really is. Few teams in the industry are still operating at this level when it comes to blending stealth, disguise, environmental kills, and replay value. If IOI can bring lessons from 007 First Light and the fantasy game back into Hitman, the next entry has a real chance to push the series another step forward once the resources are in place.

So the real significance of this news is not whether another Hitman is happening. It is that another one is definitely coming, and the direction is already visible. The stealth foundation is staying intact, the systems are set for further expansion, and combat could finally get meaningful attention. For Hitman fans, that is the reassurance that matters most.