Hitman 3 might've been the end of the World of Assassination trilogy, but IO Interactive has already committed to a Hitman 4 release.
Hitman 3 turned the page on Agent 47's five-year journey, beginning with the release of Hitman (2016), but the cold-blooded assassin's reign is far from over. While IO Interactive hasn't announced its plans for Hitman 4 yet, the developer has assured fans that the franchise isn't concluding any time soon. There's tons of potential to push the game's universe even further based on how the latest installment ended, but Hitman 3 will be the last Hitman game for a while.
IO Interactive has released its past four Hitman titles two years apart, but the developer has recently shifted focus to a brand-new franchise. The studio is currently working on a new game tentatively titled Project 007, so Agent 47 will take a backseat to James Bond for the time being. Still, the genetically-enhanced killer is destined for a monumental comeback.
IO Interactive actually stated its commitment to the franchise before Hitman 3 was even released. The developer's co-owner Christian Elverdam told Game Informer on December 31 that he felt good about walking away from the franchise after concluding the World of Assassination trilogy with Hitman 3. Elverdam reassured fans that while Agent 47 will be on hiatus for the time being, it's not the end of the Hitman series "at all." That was abundantly clear during the ending of Hitman 3.
[Warning: Spoilers for Hitman 3 below]
Hitman 3 Teased The Release Of Hitman 4
The final scenes of Hitman 3 see Agent 47's handler, Diana Burnwood, seemingly betray the title's long-time protagonist and turn him over to The Constant (Arthur Edwards). Setting up Agent 47 turns out to be a ploy to get him to kill The Constant so that Diana can assume the position herself. The final mission orders Agent 47 to find and take out Arthur. Players have the choice to kill him or wipe his memory, which results in the same conclusion. From there, Agent 47 appears to walk away from his life as a murderer-for-hire, but his work is far from over.
Hitman 3's epilogue picks up a year after Arthur's assassination and shows fan a final conversation between Agent 47 and Diana that plays out as a cutscene. He says, "I chose this path because I can. There will always be people like them, So there will always be people like us." Diana responds with, "No one is untouchable," which brings a smile across 47's face and makes him say, "It's good to be back."
A new chapter of Hitman will eventually be released with Agent 47 and Diana as equal partners, as opposed to their past handler-and-tool relationship. IO Interactive hasn't announced exactly what it has planned for the franchise after Hitman 3's World of Assassination trilogy, but Agent 47 is by no means decommissioned. Just don't expect anything before Project 007's release.
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Source: Game Informer
