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 impressive figure encompasses players who accessed the game through various avenues, including the free Starter Pack and the Xbox Game Pass subscription (during its two-year availability). This achievement solidifies Hitman: World of Assassination as potentially IO Interactive's most successful title to date.
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 cleverly bundled the three titles into one package, while still offering individual game 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" achievement on Twitter, highlighting the studio's robust current business standing. While specifics regarding individual game contributions to the 75 million player count remain undisclosed, Hitman 3 is likely a significant contributor, given its strong sales performance in various markets, including the UK.
The Impact of Xbox Game Pass and the Free Starter Pack
The immense player base is largely attributed to the game's two-year presence on Xbox Game Pass (ending January 2024) and the readily available Free Starter Pack, introduced in 2021. Free demos for the first two trilogy entries also significantly broadened the game's reach.
Hitman's Future: A Temporary Hiatus
While Hitman: World of Assassination continues to receive regular content updates (including Elusive Targets), IO Interactive is currently focusing on other projects. The studio is actively developing Project 007, a James Bond game, and Project Fantasy, a new IP venturing into a fantastical setting. These endeavors mark a temporary shift in focus from the Hitman franchise.
