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[Agent_4Seven]

WTF? I mean, I can clearly see that new Hitman selling poorly but goddamnit, I'm sure it's not the only way they can fix this. Who's gonna developing new Hitman games (or anything else from IOI backlog) now? What about Hitman's second season? How long we'll be able to play the game since the fucking thing is basicaly online only (with optional ofline mode)? Who's gonna work on the game, support it with content, patches and so on? Nobody can do it but IOI.

Also, who owns Hitman and other IOI IPs now? Without their IPs IOI basically need to develop new ones from the ground up which is one hell of a task especialy on their own and without any help from the side. This is fucked up.

 

[Dick Justice]

Why should they? It sucks but this is a business and to them Hitman just isn't doing enough for them. At least not on par with their other projects.

You act like Square Enix doesn't have a very notable recent history of botching their franchises (Deus Ex, Sleeping Dogs, now Hitman) with their stupid bullshit. Jim Sterling brought up in one of his videos how they wanted to turn all of their major franchises into multiplayer games at the start of the generation, which severely fucked up Just Cause 3 (initially mandated by Square to be a multiplayer game), Hitman (made into an episodic game, and then horribly marketed) and the other games I mentioned (remember Triad Wars?).

 

[sn00zer]

Sony buy them and make them make an Ape Escape.

 

[Harlequin]

My immediate thought is that Warner Bros. would be the best fit for IOI. But being an AAA studio in Denmark is near impossible as-is, so I wonder if anyone will want to buy them. I guess being turned into a support studio for The Division or Assassin's Creed is also a very real option, since Ubisoft seems to be focusing on bolstering its numbers, but this would be a very expensive support studio.

There are also the smaller publishers. Focus Home Interactive, Nordic THQ, Deep Silver,... I could see some of those maybe being interested in picking up IO. Or IO could always just disband and open back up under a new name as an indie dev? Not sure if that's as simple as that from a legal standpoint, though.

 

[KojiKnight]

I.... I'm part of the problem. The latest Hitman is something i want... But i kept putting it off for a cheap sale.

 

[grizzelye]

I was really looking forward to season 2, such a great game.

edit: if they do continue to do season 2 without IO, I'm not sure I will continue to support Hitman..

 

[Akai__]

An other day, an other bad news. :'(

Don't get why people didn't want to buy the new Hitman. It's so good and so much better than Absolution.

I was really looking forward to season 2, such a great game.

Same.

 

[Harlequin]

Also, who owns Hitman and other IOI IPs now? Without their IPs IOI basically need to develop new ones from the ground up which is one hell of a task especialy on their own and without any help from the side. This is fucked up.

They're owned by Square. I guess it's possible that they'll sell some of them with the studio if the buyer is willing to pay for them but I somehow doubt that they'd sell Hitman. Kane and Lynch maybe.

 

[MosquitoSmasher]

For some reason i can't really see MS or Sony swooping in, but more like the other publishers mentioned here. Warner for sure, Nordic too. I'm fine with that as long as IO survives. But.....yeah....what will happen to our bald friend 47?

 

[KORNdoggy]

Hope IO lands on their feet. Considering how shit Absolution was the fact they bounced back with Hitman 2016 which was on of the best games of the year.

I personally felt the episodic nature of that game helped more than hindered. The always online stuff was crap though.

while absolution was shit. it's probably one of the reason they were even given the opportunity to work on a new hitman in the first place. it has sold the best out of all the games after all and it's pretty clear units sold is the be-all and end-all for square enix.

the series is a niche franchise. absolution made it a mainstream success at the sacrifice of quality. maybe they'd still be around if they made an absolution sequel? who knows.

 

[AusRoachman]

Very sad to see io treated like shit by the publisher , hopefully they can continue with there new ip or start fresh .

I liked hit an absolution and the new one is great , seems like gamers just want fps action blockbusters now .

Hopefully they get snapped up by another publisher.

 

[BBboy20]

Still waiting for that dream Inception game here. No pun intended.

I still believe in Capture the Idea.

 

[SapphiCine]

I have to wonder if SE Europe is worthwhile at all to them at this point.

 

[Sayad]

I.... I'm part of the problem. The latest Hitman is something i want... But i kept putting it off for a cheap sale.

Me too, but I blame SE for not releasing the game in proper fashion. Still have no idea when the full physical release(which is what I was waiting for) came out and I'm on Gaf almost everyday.

 

[Megawarrior]

I.... I'm part of the problem. The latest Hitman is something i want... But i kept putting it off for a cheap sale.

This and I waited for the retail package to finally come out. When it finally did, 29384748 other games had my attention.

 

[Harlequin]

I have to wonder if SE Europe is worthwhile at all to them at this point.

Not if they keep running it into the ground at this rate.

This and I waited for the retail package to finally come out. When it finally did, 29384748 other games had my attention.

And Square didn't do enough to promote it to get your attention back.

 

[MosquitoSmasher]

I hope to god they sell Hitman to whoever buys IO as well, but i can definitely see SE being stubborn and maybe thinking they can have another developer make something like Absolution again...that....sigh....strangely enough DID sell well enough it seems.

 

[@MUWANdo]

while absolution was shit. it's probably one of the reason they were even given the opportunity to work on a new hitman in the first place. it has sold the best out of all the games after all and it's pretty clear units sold is the be-all and end-all for square enix.

the series is a niche franchise. absolution made it a mainstream success at the sacrifice of quality. maybe they'd still be around if they made an absolution sequel? who knows.

Absolution sold the best because S-E marketed the absolute shit out of it, it's that simple.

I suspect the muted reception to the new game had as much to do with peoples' disappointment/indifference to Absolution as anything else--in other words, people were so turned off by the last game that they didn't bother coming back for this one, even once it started getting some buzz.

 

[Boke1879]

You act like Square Enix doesn't have a very notable recent history of botching their franchises (Deus Ex, Sleeping Dogs, now Hitman) with their stupid bullshit. Jim Sterling brought up in one of his videos how they wanted to turn all of their major franchises into multiplayer games at the start of the generation, which severely fucked up Just Cause 3 (initially mandated by Square to be a multiplayer game), Hitman (made into an episodic game, and then horribly marketed) and the other games I mentioned (remember Triad Wars?).

Mankind divided didn't do well. Like I said. It sucks but it's a business.

They didn't close Eidos. They are putting them on another game. Hitman clearly didn't sell up to snuff. So they are looking to sell the studio. Thankfully they didn't lay anyone off.

 

[sixteen-bit]

pretty shocking tbh

 

[Harlequin]

Mankind divided didn't do well. Like I said. It sucks but it's a business.

They didn't close Eidos. They are putting them on another game. Hitman clearly didn't sell up to snuff. So they are looking to sell the studio. Thankfully they didn't lay anyone off.

You have to look at why they didn't sell well, though. A lot of the time, Square is much more at fault than the devs. Instead of selling studios and cancelling projects, maybe they should think about slashing their managers' salaries. This is the whole Angel of Darkness/Core Design situation all over again (only slightly less dramatic).

 

[Jawmuncher]

Looks like they should've made Kane and Lynch 3

Absolution sold the best because S-E marketed the absolute shit out of it, it's that simple.

I suspect the muted reception to the new game had as much to do with peoples' disappointment/indifference to Absolution as anything else--in other words, people were so turned off by the last game that they didn't bother coming back for this one, even once it started getting some buzz.

Eh. I think it has more to do with the marketing as you said and the format of this game. It was a digital online only game even if you bought it physically. I think that changed now but originally that's what it was. So then with the dropping of content you probably had people going "I'll wait until it's done" and then forgetting all about it by the time season 1 is done. Much like RE7, I doubt it was the reception of one sequel that instantly put the series where it is. Other series have come back from much darker places

 

[Stealth50]

Considering that the studio is located 20 minutes away from Ubisoft's Massive studio I could see them being at least a little bit interested in acquiring them.

 

[Fantastapotamus]

You have to look at why they didn't sell well, though. A lot of the time, Square is much more at fault than the devs. Instead of selling studios and cancelling projects, maybe they should think about slashing their managers' salaries. This is the whole Angel of Darkness/Core Design situation all over again (only slightly less dramatic).

Pretty sure Just Cause is also dead in the water by now. Guess who messed that up? Oh that's right. Square.

 

[jett]

Hitman didn't actually seem to sell all that well despite the reception.

I think people didn't respond well at all to the episodic/piecemeal nature of Hitman. I guess that only works for Telltale? And their sales numbers seem to be way down compared to their heyday too.

 

[MosquitoSmasher]

I think people didn't respond well at all to the episodic/piecemeal nature of Hitman. I guess that only works for Telltale? And their sales numbers seem to be way down compared to their heyday too.

But early this year the full game released didn't it? People should have gone out and buy it, but....didn't. A real shame.

 

[Turin Turambar]

while absolution was shit. it's probably one of the reason they were even given the opportunity to work on a new hitman in the first place. it has sold the best out of all the games after all and it's pretty clear units sold is the be-all and end-all for square enix.

the series is a niche franchise. absolution made it a mainstream success at the sacrifice of quality. maybe they'd still be around if they made an absolution sequel? who knows.

Nope,hitman turned into a multi million franchise with Blood Money.

 

[Boss Doggie]

I thought 2016 was a massive hit?

 

[ULTROS!]

You have to look at why they didn't sell well, though. A lot of the time, Square is much more at fault than the devs. Instead of selling studios and cancelling projects, maybe they should think about slashing their managers' salaries. This is the whole Angel of Darkness/Core Design situation all over again (only slightly less dramatic).

Is it really Square's fault or is it a change in market?

I'm not sure but it seems like Japanese titles are faring slightly better in the West these days than last gen and the Western A to AA aren't looking so hot nowadays. I don't know if you classify Hitman and Deus Ex as AAA or AA titles.

 

[Mass_Pincup]

But early this year the full game released didn't it? People should have gone out and buy it, but....didn't. A real shame.

At that point the game "felt old".

Most game sales occur near release. When the game is available for close to a year it's not going to have normal day 1 sales.

 

[jett]

But early this year the full game released didn't it? People should have gone out and buy it, but....didn't. A real shame.

I bought it when the whole season was out, on sale. Honestly it didn't click for me. It felt like it's actually meant to be played as each episode rolled out originally.

 

[Harlequin]

Considering that the studio is located 20 minutes away from Ubisoft's Massive studio I could see them being at least a little bit interested in acquiring them.

If Ubisoft acquires them, they'll probably be relegated to being a support studio for one of Ubi's big IPs. And who knows what'll happen to them once Vivendi inevitably takes over Ubisoft.

Is it really Square's fault or is it a change in market?

I'm not sure but it seems like Japanese titles are faring slightly better in the West these days than last gen and the Western A to AA aren't looking so hot nowadays. I don't know if you classify Hitman and Deus Ex as AAA or AA titles.

It definitely would have sold better if they had released it in one piece straight away and promoted it properly. Whether it would've sold enough to be considered a success by Square's standards is hard to tell, of course. But this is hardly the first time that Eidos/Square has done this sort of thing.

 

[KORNdoggy]

Absolution sold the best because S-E marketed the absolute shit out of it, it's that simple.

but they could only do that becasue IO consciously made a more marketable game. the new hitman, as great as it is, isn't very marketable. it's got no bombastic cutscenes or a particularly deep overarching narrative. absolution however was made to be mainstream. from it's features to it's plot. you could cut an awesome cinematic movie-like trailer with absolution to pull in the masses...you can't do that with the new hitman, especially as an episodic title.

Nope,hitman turned into a multi million franchise with Blood Money.

i never said otherwise. i said absolution made it mainstream and it sold the most. its got 1.5 million sales more than blood money. that's the power of catering to the masses. the new hitman caters to the fans...and clearly there is less of them than they thought.

 

[The Giant]

Nintendo changed their stance on buying studios in the gamecube days. Now they farm out their ip. I agree though, would be nice to see Nintendo expand seeing as 3rd parties are reluctant to make the effort.

Nintendo changed that stance in 2015, they are opened up to buying stuff.

 

[AHA-Lambda]

What about the Hitman IP?

 

[nOoblet16]

IO without the hitman license won't be that attractive of a deal. And IO without hitman will have a tougher time. So if they want to really sell IO then they have to sell hitman license. But SE will probably be greedy and instead sell IO at a cost and keep Hitman to capitalise in future by handing it out to developers who don't know shit about hitman and then when it does bad and the franchise will die.

It's so clear and plausible that it's hard to watch it happen.

 

[KORNdoggy]

I thought 2016 was a massive hit?

it's a great game. but success is measured in money earned. and like deus ex and dishonored...sometimes great games slip through the cracks. we probably won't see more of any of them sadly.

 

[KingParappa]

Times like this I wish I was a wealthy man or had a wealthy relative

 

[Interfectum]

This is seriously depressing news. Hitman 2016 was so fucking good.

 

[KimonoNoNo]

Square management is a complete waste of space.

Their developers are able to put out quality games while constantly being undermined by upper management.

I hope IO are bought by someone like Nordic even they can't secure the Hitman IP; They don't deserve to carry the can for the fuck-ups at Square/Eidos.

 

[Mesoian]

Well this is all very disappointing

 

[madjoki]

I thought 2016 was a massive hit?

It was massive flop.

 

[Dick Justice]

Mankind divided didn't do well. Like I said. It sucks but it's a business.

They didn't close Eidos. They are putting them on another game. Hitman clearly didn't sell up to snuff. So they are looking to sell the studio. Thankfully they didn't lay anyone off.

Mankind Divided didn't do well, in large part due to Square's marketing blunders (Augment Your Pre-Order) and forcing the devs to cut the game up to make a trilogy out of it. They didn't close Eidos, but they do seem to have killed off the Deus Ex franchise for now. And I already explained why Hitman didn't sell up to snuff. But obviously, it's much easier to sell off the team than have any of the execs in charge of publishing the thing take any responsibility.

Nice of you to ignore my other examples, btw.

 

[Kill3r7]

Hitman 2016 was on point but IO without the Hitman license is a tough sell.

 

[D4Danger]

Dear Microsoft/Sony/EA/Ubisoft/Someone

*pointing aggressively*

 

[erotic grandpa]

$43 million write off sure sounds like bailing on development in progress, doesn't it?

God I was looking forward to Season Two so much.

Looks like the curse of naming your game Season/Chapter/Volume/Etc. 1 strikes again.

Spoiler

Guys please stop suggesting MS as a buyer. Last thing IO needs is a company that will rush their product to market and then shut them down shortly after.

 

[m_dorian]

Episodic AND always online SP?
Sorry, can not support this.

But it is sad to learn that the game, that seems to be praised, did not sell well.

 

[gafneo]

Hitman should be bought buy Rockstar games. Evil, inappropriate, no holds bar story telling.

 

[Skatewarp]

Sad news...
What are the chances that Take-Two or Rockstar to buy them?
Honestly, I feel like they have a better future with them.

Spoiler

Guys please stop suggesting MS as a buyer. Last thing IO needs is a company that will rush their product to market and then shut them down shortly after.

I agree with this.

 

[Fantastapotamus]

Breaks my heart to still see so many people complain about the episodic nature which was among the best decisions iO/Square could have made for that game. Apparently not marketing wise though.