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Developer IO Interactive and publisher Warner Bros have announced a brand new publishing and distribution agreement for Hitman.
The first step of this new partnership will be the release of Hitman: Definitive Edition on PS4 and Xbox One on May 18th. It will include all the content and DLC from the first season of 2017’s Hitman (and the content from the Game of the Year Edition), as well a new in-game apparel for Agent 47, based on IO’s Freedom Fighters, Kane & Lynch and Mini Ninjas.
Warner Bros president David Haddad commented:. “We’re very excited to be working with IO Interactive, a talented studio with a long-standing legacy creating the iconic Hitman games. The passionate, global Hitman community has embraced the recent return of the series, and we’re thrilled to bring the Hitman: Definitive Edition to fans and new players next month.”
Hakan Abrak, CEO at IO Interactive, added: “We’re super excited to be working with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on Hitman and together releasing the Hitman: Definitive Edition to new players. Working with a partner like WBIE means that the team at IOI can stay focused on what we’re good at, making games.”
IO Interactive went through a difficult journey last year, as Square Enix put the developer up for sale in May, which lead to an unspecified number of job losses. However, in June 2017, IO announced its independence from Square Enix, with full control over the Hitman IP and then confirmed in November that a new Hitman was on the way.
