IO Interactive has been growing steadily ever since it bought back its status as an independent studio from Square Enix, thanks to the growing success and popularity of the Hitman series. Now, the developer has announced the next major leg of its expansion plans.
IO Interactive has announced that it’s opened up a new studio in Barcelona, Spain. This will be IO’s third studio, joining their studios in Copenhagen and Malmö, and will be focused alongside the other two teams on building all ongoing properties and universes that IO Interactive is working on. That includes Hitman, the upcoming Project 007, and a new unannounced IP that’s currently in the works.
“There are exciting times ahead at IO Interactive and I am proud to announce the next step in our plans for the most desirable game company in Europe,” says IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak. “IOI Barcelona will become the third studio to join our efforts to create phenomenal experiences for our players and communities.
“All three of our studios have extremely talented developers who are passionate and driven towards making an impact in our industry. A core part of our philosophy is that everyone at IOI has a significant and impactful role to play in realizing our dreams, regardless of where they’re located. Think of it as one studio, in multiple locations.”
Currently, Project 007 is in development, but given the fact that it seems to be in early production still, it’s unlikely that it launches any time soon. Hitman 3 still has plenty of content coming up though, with IO Interactive having announced a seven-part seasonal expansion roadmap for the stealth title. Read more on that through here.