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 game 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 strategically 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" milestone on Twitter, highlighting the studio's robust current business position. While specific contribution details weren't shared, Hitman 3 likely played a significant role, given previous sales data indicating its outperformance in key markets like the UK compared to its predecessor.
Xbox Game Pass and the Free Starter Pack: Key Drivers of Success
The game's two-year presence on Xbox Game Pass, ending in January 2024, undoubtedly contributed significantly to the 75 million player milestone. Furthermore, the free starter pack, available since the game's 2021 launch, and free demos for the first two trilogy entries, significantly 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 developing two new projects: Project 007, a James Bond game in development since 2020, and Project Fantasy, a new IP announced in 2023 that aims to explore a fantastical setting.