In a sudden monumental move, Square Enix has announced in their Financial Results that they will be withdrawing from any further business with Danish developer, IO Interactive. The relationship between the two started in 2009 when Square Enix acquired Eidos Interactive, the parent company of IO Interactive. Since 2013, the developer has been focusing on the next Hitman, indicating that it would be released in episodic seasons.

Yet, now that future is very unclear. Looking at their financial results, the fiscal year ending on 31 March, it would appear as through IO Interactive resulted in the loss of millions of Yen.

 "...the Company announced that it has decided to withdraw from the business of IO
INTERACTIVE A/S, a wholly-owned owned subsidiary of the Company and a Danish corporation, as of March 31, 2017, and that the decision has resulted in booking of the extraordinary loss amounting to 4,898 million yen in the financial results for this Fiscal Year." 

This is indeed disturbing. It is interesting to note in the report that, despite these financial losses, Square Enix still enjoyed 'record-high net sales'. Despite this lucrative business, they still decided to divorce from IO Interactive, probably before any future losses grossly affect the financial bottom line.

Be that as it may, their decision is final. We await further word on what this means for our beloved Hitman series, and hopefully soon.

Source: Square-Enix