Summary
Hitman: World of Assassination has achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing 75 million players. This impressive player count includes those who downloaded the free Starter Pack and those who experienced the game through Xbox Game Pass during its two-year availability.
Hitman: World of Assassination, while technically a collection of three games rather than a single title, is arguably IO Interactive's most successful game to date. Following the release of the trilogy's third installment, IO Interactive cleverly bundled the three Hitman games into a single package (though still purchasable individually). 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 proudly announced this monumental achievement on Twitter. The studio highlighted the significant success, stating their business is stronger than ever. While specific breakdowns weren't provided, Hitman 3 likely contributed substantially to the overall player count, given its strong sales performance exceeding its predecessors in key markets like the UK and its faster return on investment compared to the 2016 Hitman title.
Hitman's 75 Million Player Milestone: The Role of Xbox Game Pass and the Free Starter Pack
The game's availability on Xbox Game Pass for two years (until January 2024) significantly boosted player numbers. Equally impactful was the free Starter Pack offered since the game's 2021 launch, along with free demos for the first two trilogy entries, significantly expanding the game's reach.
Despite Enormous Success, the Hitman Franchise Is Currently on Pause
While Hitman: World of Assassination continues to receive regular content updates—a trend IO Interactive has confirmed will persist—these updates are primarily smaller additions like Elusive Targets. The studio's current focus lies elsewhere.
IO Interactive is currently developing two separate projects outside the Hitman franchise. One is Project 007, a James Bond game in development since 2020. The other is Project Fantasy, a new IP announced in 2023, marking IOI's venture into a fantastical setting and pushing the studio beyond its established expertise.
