Hitman e IO Interactive vengono ufficialmente messi in stasi da parte di Square Enix. Il publisher giapponese, infatti, ha comunicato che attualmente ha deciso di concentrarsi su franchise molto più importanti ed è per questo che per il momento non proseguirà con la realizzazoine di titoli dedicati all’Agente 47.
Contemporaneamente, però, Square Enix sta cercando degli investitori per permettere sia allo studio che al brand di continuare la propria vita. Ecco quanto dichiarato:
To maximize player satisfaction as well as market potential going forward, we are focusing our resources and energies on key franchises and studios. As a result, [Square Enix] has regrettably decided to withdraw from the business of IO Interactive A/S, a wholly‐owned subsidiary and a Danish corporation, as of March 31, 2017.
This decision has resulted in booking of the extraordinary loss amounting to 4,898 million yen, including disposition of the content production account related to the business and impairment loss of intangible assets, in the financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017.
As a result of this [Square Enix] started discussions with potential new investors and is currently in negotiations to secure this investment. Whilst there can be no guarantees that the negotiations will be concluded successfully, they are being explored since this is in the best interests of our shareholders, the studio and the industry as a whole.