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 player count includes those who downloaded the free starter pack and those who experienced the game via Xbox Game Pass during its two-year tenure on the service. 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 games 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" achievement on Twitter, highlighting their strong business performance. While specific details regarding the milestone's breakdown remain undisclosed, Hitman 3 likely significantly contributed to the overall player count, given its strong sales performance in markets such as the UK, exceeding its predecessor's success.
Xbox Game Pass and the Free Starter Pack: Key Drivers of Success
The game's two-year presence on Xbox Game Pass, concluding in January 2024, played a pivotal role in achieving this milestone. Equally significant is the readily available free starter pack, introduced upon the game's initial 2021 release. Free demos for the first two trilogy entries further broadened the game's reach.
Hitman Series on Hiatus: Future Projects Take Center Stage
While Hitman: World of Assassination continues to receive regular content updates, including elusive targets, IO Interactive's current focus on the franchise appears limited. The studio is currently dedicating its efforts to two new projects: Project 007, a James Bond game in development since 2020, and Project Fantasy, a new IP announced in 2023, venturing into a fantastical setting.
