Hitman 4 Rumors: What IO’s CEO Actually Said About the Next Game

The World of Assassination trilogy wrapped up nearly two years ago, Freelancer dropped as its last big content update, and since then it’s been mostly quiet on the Agent 47 front. Reddit threads speculating about a 2026 release, clickbait headlines claiming “Hitman 4 CONFIRMED,” and a rising chorus of fans wondering if Agent 47 is actually done this time.

IO Interactive hasn’t announced a numbered sequel. They also haven’t said the franchise is over. In fact, their CEO gave a specific interview that most of the hype pieces are paraphrasing into something it isn’t. So let’s do what the headlines won’t — read the actual words, look at the studio’s pipeline, and figure out what’s real and what’s wishful thinking.

The state of the franchise: the trilogy is over, the series isn’t

the World of Assassination trilogy ran for eight years, and Hitman: Freelancer was its last substantial content update. The trilogy ending doesn’t mean the franchise is ending — it means a chapter closed. IO Interactive’s creative officer already said back in 2020 that Hitman 3 wasn’t the end “at all,” and the CEO has been consistent since.

The question isn’t if Agent 47 returns. The question is when and in what form.

What Hakan Abrak actually said

The primary source is a Variety interview with IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak. Here’s the exact quote:

“We need to finish out this current year first, and then in 2025/2026 you’ll get more news about the ‘Hitman’ co-op mode.”

Let’s unpack that. He’s talking about the co-op mode starring agents Stone and Knight, not a numbered sequel. He’s saying news comes in 2025/2026. And he’s signaling that the franchise continues — after that, we’ll talk about the next Hitman.

Most headlines skip the “co-op” qualifier and turn it into “Hitman 4 confirmed.” It’s not. What Abrak actually promised is a timeline for the co-op mode reveal, followed by then talking about the next mainline entry.

Bottom line: The CEO’s quote confirms co-op news is coming next year — it does not confirm a numbered sequel.

The co-op mode: agents Stone and Knight

It stars two new agents: Stone and Knight. They were first name-dropped in the mobile game Hitman Sniper — a fun “oh, that’s where that came from” detail for lore nerds, and properly revealed in June 2024. The mode is a separate experiment, not a placeholder for Hitman 4.

It’s the immediate next Hitman content on the roadmap. Game Informer has also covered the mode, noting its potential to expand the franchise’s gameplay.

Abrak’s timeline puts co-op news in 2025/2026, which means the mode itself likely ships in 2026 or 2027.

Why the wait: IO Interactive’s full plate

They’re actually staffing up — the employee count jumped from 200 to over 400, building capacity for multiple projects simultaneously. Here’s what they’re working on:

• 007 First Light – The Bond game, hitting March 2026 on PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. That last platform is a notable detail: IO Interactive is clearly thinking about next-gen Nintendo hardware, which hints at future Hitman platform strategy.
• Project Fantasy – A new IP in the background.
• Hitman co-op mode – As discussed, the next direct Hitman content.

That’s three major projects, plus whatever else is in pre-production. The employee growth means they can handle it, but it also means the next full-fledged Hitman game isn’t getting started until the co-op mode ships and Bond is out the door. Given 007 First Light’s platform list, it’s highly likely the next full Hitman entry will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and possibly Nintendo Switch 2.

Where the story could go: Hitman 3’s two endings

Hitman 3 left players with two distinct endings, both of which set up future installments.

Ending one: Agent 47 takes down Providence, retires to a quiet life, and then — a year later, accepts a new job. Classic “you can’t escape the life” beat, perfectly captured in this fan art of the perfect assassin. It leaves the door open for a sequel without forcing a specific direction.

Ending two: 47 gets his memories erased, mirroring the opening of the very first Hitman: Codename 47. This one is often misinterpreted as a hard reboot, but it’s a narrative callback. The memory wipe gives IOI a clean slate — or a way to continue the story with a reset protagonist, much like how Agent 47 has become a cosplay icon. Either way, it’s a deliberate hook, not a dead end.

Neither ending is confirmed as canon, leaving IOI room to choose.

What’s happening now: Elusive Targets and crossovers

Even during the development lull, the franchise is alive. Two time-limited missions prove it:

• Eminem hires 47 to eliminate Slim Shady – Yes, that’s real. It’s an Elusive Target mission available until December 31st. The premise is peak Hitman: a celebrity hiring a hitman to kill his own alter ego. It makes you laugh and then boot up the game.
• Agent 47 vs Le Chiffre – Mads Mikkelsen reprises his role from Casino Royale in a crossover that feels like fan fiction come true. It’s a Bond villain in a Hitman sandbox.

These time-limited missions are an engagement strategy to keep the community active while the core team focuses on the next big project.

What we actually know vs. what fans hope

Let’s be direct about the evidence:

• Has Hitman 4 been confirmed? No. IO Interactive has not officially announced Hitman 4.
• Is the franchise continuing? Yes. CEO Hakan Abrak said so explicitly in a Variety interview.
• Is there a new Hitman game coming out in 2026? Unlikely for a numbered sequel. The co-op mode starring agents Stone and Knight is the next Hitman content, and news for that arrives in 2025/2026.
• Will it be called “Hitman 4”? Maybe not. The next entry may not be numbered ‘4’ but will likely star Agent 47.

Reddit rumors about specific dates, gameplay details, or story leaks are not evidence. The only credible signals are the CEO’s direct quote, the confirmed project pipeline, and the employee count growth. Everything else is speculation.

When to expect the next Hitman

Here’s the most realistic timeline based on what’s known:

• March 2026 – 007 First Light ships on PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2.
• 2025/2026 – Co-op mode news arrives per Abrak’s timeline.
• 2026/2027 – Co-op mode starring agents Stone and Knight likely releases.
• 2027-2028 – Realistic window for a numbered sequel (or whatever the next mainline entry is called).

The studio’s headcount growth from 200 to over 400 suggests they could overlap development, but given the complexity of a modern Hitman game — huge sandbox levels, layered systems, replayability — 2027-2028 is the most plausible estimate.

The verdict

The franchise is healthy, the studio is staffing up, and the CEO said more is coming. But the next Hitman content is a co-op mode starring agents Stone and Knight, not a numbered sequel, and the timeline pushes a full-fledged entry into 2027-2028 at the earliest.

IO Interactive isn’t abandoning Agent 47. They’re just building 007 First Light, Project Fantasy, and the co-op mode first.

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