Hitman Next-Gen Cancelled: Square Enix Developer Confirms IO Interactive Has Axed Project?

Square Enix Montreal's in-development "Hitman" has been reportedly canceled seven months after laying off half of their "Hitman: Absolution" production staff, according to IGN.

"Videogamer spotted that the LinkedIn profile of senior game designer Richard Knight claims the 'Hitman Project (Next-Gen Consoles/Current Gen/PC)' has now been cancelled, and he is instead 'Prototyping games in short dev cycles for Tablet devices,'" IGN reports.

However, Square Enix has not officially confirmed their "Hitman" project is in fact canceled, but a game cancellation isn't odd considering the layoffs that occurred in June 2013. IO Interactive, the developers of "Hitman: Absolution", laid off "half" of its staff. IO released the following statement about the layoffs to IGN:

"Hannes Seifert, formerly Production Director for 3 years at the studio, will take over the position of Studio Head at IO. The studio will focus resolutely on the future vision for the Hitman franchise and is in pre-production on a new triple-A Hitman project.

"However, we have taken the difficult decision to cancel other studio projects and initiatives at IO and reduce the workforce in this studio, which will impact almost half of the employees currently at IO, as we make internal adjustments to face the challenges of today's market.

"For those affected," the statement concluded, "we are extremely grateful for the hard work which they have contributed, and where it's possible and appropriate to relocate staff to open positions at other studios within the group, we will try to do so. We are also reaching out to other companies for outplacement opportunities. We sincerely wish them well in their future careers."

"Hitman: Absolution" was released on Nov. 20, 2013. The reportedly cancelled "Hitman" project had no set release date.

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