IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak has spilled the beans about how his team keeps up with the big names in the AAA market. In a chat with The Game Business, Abrak confessed that since Hitman: Absolution, they’ve been trimming development costs by reducing the number of new restrooms incorporated into each game.
In his words, “I served as executive producer for [2012’s] ‘Hitman Absolution,’ and I vowed never to embark on another new project again,” said Abrak. “We were constantly introducing something new. It was just a fleeting endeavor. During the early stages of planning for Hitman in 2016, we constructed it with a strategy that allowed for intelligent reuse.
Additionally, Abrak shared that the budgets assigned to the “Hitman” series games have been reduced since the trilogy commenced. He didn’t provide exact numbers, but he did offer an illustration: if 2016’s “Hitman” was made on a budget of $100 million, then “Hitman 3,” which received the highest ratings in the trilogy, would likely have a budget of around $20 million.
Regarding the Hitman series, he mentioned that approximately $100 million was invested in the 2016 game, followed by around $60 million for Hitman 2, and only about $20 million for Hitman 3. Interestingly, Hitman 3 had the highest Metacritic score with ratings of 85, 84, and 87. It also introduced some unique new settings. Although Bond is expected to require a larger budget due to its increased expense and ambition, the way IO Interactive develops their games ensures longevity, which could potentially lead to another sequel in the future. Their focus on efficiency is crucial to them.
In the end, Abrak discussed that extravagant budgets often stem from unnecessary resource usage. Criticizing the creation of Absolution as wasteful, Abrak further explained that IO Interactive has significantly improved in their efficiency when it comes to producing their games.
He remarked, ‘With Absolution, we squandered far too much.’ It was an inefficient production process. As the studio production director at that time, I completely transformed our mindset. The World of Assassination is a concept that originated around 13 to 14 years ago. Establishing this foundation, what we refer to as the ‘brick system,’ enables us to create an experience like [the new Hitman mission starring Mads Mikkelsen] rapidly and cost-effectively. This was a crucial step in achieving sustainable AAA production. I won’t claim that we are perfect; we will continue striving for improvement, aiming to be less wasteful while still maintaining our ambitious nature.
As a gamer, I find myself in the thick of an evolutionary phase within our gaming world. It’s not just about leveling up or conquering new territories; it’s about maturing, growing wisely. We could have expanded faster, dived into more projects, but we’ve chosen to grow at a pace that allows our unique culture and skills to keep up.
Right now, Hitman’s World of Assassination team, specifically focusing on Casino Royale’s Le Chiffre as an Elusive Target, is busy working on their next big project: 007: First Light. This upcoming game will be available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S in the year 2026. However, Abrak has hinted that they haven’t finished with Hitman just yet.
Read More
- WLD PREDICTION. WLD cryptocurrency
- USD ILS PREDICTION
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- EUR USD PREDICTION
- Charlize ditches pants for racy red carpet look at The Old Guard 2 premiere with Uma Thurman
- New Nintendo Switch 2 Report Teases Luigi’s Mansion 4
- Planet Zoo Update Welcomes New Animals
- XEC/USD
- BTC AUD PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- TRX AUD PREDICTION. TRX cryptocurrency
2025-06-27 15:11