Now Loading...Which Publisher Should Pick Up Io Interactive

With the recent news that Square Enix is offloading Hitman developer Io-Interactive, we here at PlayStation LifeStyle decided to offer our thoughts on which publisher we think would be a good fit for the Danish studio.

In this week’s Now Loading, the PlayStation LifeStyle staff weigh in on who we want to pick up Io-Interactive. Is it EA? Activision? Bethesda? Check out the gallery below to see which studio we think best fits the studio.

In related news, Io-Interactive will reportedly retain the rights to the Hitman franchise it built (yay!), and Hitman Season 2 will make its way out in 2018.

Which publisher do you hope picks up Io-Interactive and why? Let us know what your thoughts are in the comments.

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Now Loading is a recurring staff-driven feature where PlayStation LifeStyle discusses anything video game-related under the sun (yes, even non-Sony platforms).

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Now Loading…Which Publisher Should Pick Up Io-Interactive

Now Loading…Which Publisher Should Pick Up Io-Interactive
Zarmena Khan

@Zarmena

Given the nature of Hitman, I can only picture publishers/developers with some experience in stealth being the right fit for Io-Interactive. Arkane/Bethesda and Ubisoft come to mind. Whoever invests or buys Io, however, needs to help the studio explore its talents and opportunities beyond Hitman.
Tyler Treese

@tylertreese

Electronic Arts would make sense, as they've already worked together in the past (Freedom Fighters), and I could see them wanting to adapt IO Interactive's approach to a single-player service game to other properties. As Jeff Grubb recently pointed out, this very well could be the future of solo gaming.
Stephen Bitto

@SteveOneder

Microsoft seems pretty desperate for first-party developer talent and this studio can hit the ground running. Perhaps they'll take a chance on IO Interactive.
Chandler Wood

@FinchStrife

THQ Nordic has been picking up and reviving misfit developers and franchises, so I can see them opening their doors and giving the Hitman dev a home. Honestly, I think a lot of publishers will have their eyes on IO. While it may not have been lucrative for Square Enix, I wouldn't be surprised to see many other publishers with their own plans for how they could handle the developer and their properties.
Michael Briers

@briersytweets

I think Bethesda would be a fantastic home for IO. These past few years alone we've seen the publisher double down on AAA titles with robust single-player experiences (see: Doom, Wolfenstein, Dishonored and Prey), and with talk that IO is still planning to push on with Hitman season 2, I can foresee a scenario in which Bethesda invests in the studio's ongoing vision.
Heath Hindman

@TheHeathHindman

Can they go indie and make a game called "Specific Target Murder Guy?" I don't know how the game industry works.
Alex Co

@excaliburps

Personally, I think the good fits for Io-Interactive would be: EA, Bethesda and Nordic Games.

I say EA and Bethesda since both might want a good third-person action game from the ground up cultivated by a very competent studio (remember Army of Two, anyone?). Maybe EA can have the studio do a third-person Battlefield game? Or heck, maybe take a spin at Dead Space?

But given how Nordic Games operates, it wouldn't surprise me if they're the ones that pick Io up. I wouldn't mind it, either.

I'm not that worried with Io given their pedigree, I just hope they land with someone who appreciates their talents.
Mack Ashworth

@GamingWithMack

I can definitely see IO feeling comfortable at Bethesda, but perhaps their previous history at EA will have them joining forces once more.