Hitman: World of Assassination Passes Astonishing Player Milestone

Hitman: World of Assassination achieves a remarkable milestone of over 75 million players. This impressive player count includes those who accessed the game through the free starter pack and the Xbox Game Pass (during its two-year availability). This success likely makes it IO Interactive's most successful title to date.

It's important to note that World of Assassination isn't a single game, but a compilation of three Hitman titles. Following the release of the trilogy's third installment, IO Interactive cleverly bundled the three games together (though individual purchases remain an option). This combined package relaunched on PC and consoles in January 2023 and expanded to the Meta Quest 3 in September 2024.

On January 10th, IO Interactive proudly announced the 75 million player milestone on Twitter, hailing it as a "monumental" achievement and highlighting the studio's robust current business state. While specifics are unavailable, Hitman 3 likely significantly contributed to this impressive player count, given past sales data showing it outperforming its predecessor in key markets like the UK and achieving faster development cost recovery than the 2016 Hitman title.

The Impact of Xbox Game Pass and the Free Starter Pack

The game's two-year presence on Xbox Game Pass (ending January 2024) and the ongoing availability of a free starter pack (introduced in 2021) were major factors driving player numbers. Free demos for the first two trilogy entries also significantly broadened the game's reach.

Hitman's Future: A Temporary Pause

While World of Assassination continues to receive regular updates (including Elusive Targets), IO Interactive's current focus on the franchise seems limited to smaller content releases. The studio is currently concentrating on two new projects: Project 007 (a James Bond game in development since 2020) and Project Fantasy (a new IP announced in 2023, exploring a fantastical setting). This indicates a temporary hiatus for new Hitman game development.