Next Hitman game to offer 'fresh take' on series

The next Hitman game being developed by Square Enix Montreal will offer a fresh take on the series.

All Hitman titles have previously been developed by IO Interactive, including the just-launched Hitman: Absolution.

Now the recently established Square Enix Montreal studio has been tasked with developing a new game in the Hitman series.

IO Interactive's Tore Blystad believes the two studios can work together like Treyarch and Infinity Ward do on the Call of Duty games.

"It's like with Treyarch and Infinity Ward," he told OPM. "You have an IP that has been developed. They will feed off each other, as well as [have] some things that stand out.

"I think with these big franchises it takes a long time to develop just one game. If you can, work a little bit in parallel at least and help each other out.

"We've been talking about these similarities to some of the big movie franchises like Aliens, where everyone's doing it their own way.

"Every time someone gets their hands on a franchise they do something different. So rather than doing the same thing again you get another take on the character from a fresh perspective."

Blystad added that even though Hitman is in another studios hands, there are still members of IO Interactive keeping a watchful eye over it.

"Well there are talks between us and of course it has to be somewhat in sync but it's the first time you could say Hitman has gone out of the house.

"Luckily it's with someone we know. Some of the key developers came from IO and have been working on previous games so it's not like it's in completely new hands."