Every article tag can be clicked to get a list of all articles in that category. Every article tag also has an RSS feed! You can customize an RSS feed too!
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.
tagline-image
Good news for fans of HITMAN, as IO Interactive have confirmed they've retained the rights and become a fully independent studio.

Here's the most important snippet from the press release sent out today:
QuoteTherefore I am proud to announce today that IOI is now officially an independent studio. We have successfully concluded our negotiations with Square Enix and have agreed to a management buyout. Crucially, we will keep all of the rights to the Hitman IP.


Very welcome news after a period of uncertainty since Square Enix decided to start cutting down, which included removing their funding of IO Interactive.

Hopefully they will continue to work with Feral Interactive to bring more exciting titles to Linux. Without a publisher funding them though, this could mean future titles may end up watered-down compared to what they've done recently. Considering how well the latest HITMAN has done for them, I am hopeful they will continue pushing out great games.

I personally think the latest HITMAN is fantastic and I've certainly enjoyed my time with it. I am really hoping they do a second season as I need more.

See the full post here. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Editorial
16 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
35 comments
Page: «3/4»
  Go to:

STiAT Jun 16, 2017
First of all, I am glad for IOI and the developers there.

Secondly, they now have a record working with Feral, and if the ports were successful (and they don't take a huge risk letting Feral do the port, it's most likely Ferals risk), they probably will do it again.
eldersnake Jun 17, 2017
Quoting: ShmerlI'm interested in whether they'll start releasing their games DRM-free.

Can't imagine that's very high on their priorities
PublicNuisance Jun 17, 2017
More developers free from the shackles of publishers is a good thing in my books. If they continue to support Linux I will continue to support them. DRM free would be a huge bonus.
Liothe Jun 17, 2017
Quoting: liamdawehttps://twitter.com/feralgames/status/875689145254936578
Quoting: FeralCongratulations @IOInteractive and @HITMAN! You've always been one of our favourite partners. We look forward to many more hits to come.

Quoting: KeyrockQuick, someone from Feral send IO Interactive a congratulatory encouraging tweet... and a nice card... and a batch of delicious cookies. :D

1/3

The various games ported to us under Square Enix banner would imply Ferals' good relations are with them. That tweet implies more direct relations with the studios.
The wait and see approach is most fitting now, I believe
Whitewolfe80 Jun 18, 2017
As for Shadow Warrior 2 the radio silence over the port speaks volumes its either been canned or is having major issues.
14 Jun 18, 2017
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
It's good news that Hitman is not gone and is remaining in the creator's hands. It could have been archived or given to some brand new studio (which sometimes works out but often doesn't). If the franchise died, there would be zero hope to see new Hitman games on any platform.
Keyrock Jun 18, 2017
Quoting: GuestWho decides if a game gets ported to Linux? For example, if Feral Interactive wants to port The Witcher 3 to Linux, is it CD Projekt who has the final say?
The publisher or developer (in the case of an independent studio working without a publisher) and the porting studio need to reach an agreement for a game to get ported with terms both parties find acceptable. Ultimately, the party that owns the rights to the game in question (usually the publisher) has the final say. After all, it's their game. So yes, in the example you gave, CD Projekt RED would have the final say.
wojtek88 Jun 18, 2017
Quoting: GuestThanks for the replies.

Let's say the financials are not an issue and the porting company can do it successfully. Will there any be logical reason for the Windows publisher not to allow the game to be ported to Linux?
Yes and no. Let me elaborate on this.

The problem is that your assumption is wrong. Financials are always an issue -> Party that has rights to the game has to see business value in new market (either now or in long-term perspective). Regarding "porting company can do it successfully" I will use Witcher game series as an example to answer your question, because I have an impression that you want to focus on Witcher 3.

First of all -> CD Projekt Red already ordered Linux port of one of the Witcher series games - The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. I don't know if you are familiar with the story, but initial port caused serious shitstorm. Quality of the port was very bad, and Linux users were requesting their money back, Windows users were laughing at Linux users, because of low quality of the game and because of low performance of OpenGL, etc.
Virtual Programming did this port, and many Linux gamers started to hate their "eON" wrapper.
3 years later the game works almost as good as Windows version performance-wise, eON wrapper is mature (has it's own issues of course, but is decent from my perspective).
The question here is -> is such a port successful? Today, the game works like it should, however, it looks like CD Projekt RED interpreted this port as a failure, because they avoid talking about Linux versions of their games. If first port would be successful from very beginning, I am 100% sure that we would be playing Linux version of Witcher 3 game for a year now.

The other aspect related to successful port is the fact that porting the game like Witcher 3 is an ongoing process. You need to ensure that the game on other platform is up-to-date with the version on base platform. Take a look at other games Feral Interactive ported -> those games have some delay with updates while comparing with Windows version of the game. Because of that I can assume, that Feral's port is not merged to game's codebase, and because of that they have to manually adapt changes made in game's codebase to port's codebase. If my assumption is true, Feral's developers have to do some ungrateful work after port is published and updates to already ported games are released.

This business model has it's serious disadvantages -> at some point port done by 3rd party may be not developed anymore, while the game itself is in development, and as a result, people who invested money in Linux version of the game cannot play their game anymore. I refer to this situation.

So it's not black and white and that's why there is no simple yes/no answear to your question.


Last edited by wojtek88 on 18 June 2017 at 4:48 pm UTC
Beamboom Jun 19, 2017
Quoting: liamhis could mean future titles may end up watered-down compared to what they've done recently

This concern is very real. If the released title didn't sell enough to earn a decent profit (why else would SE dicontinue it) then will this company have enough strength to carry a development of such a big production alone?

Time will show...
harshbarj Jun 19, 2017
Quoting: liamdaweThere's no reason to assume IO will suddenly be anti-Linux.

There's also no reason to think they will be supporting Linux either. Their track record looks rather dismal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IO_Interactive#Games_developed
Year Title Platform(s)
GCN PS2 PS3 PS4 Wii Win Linux Mac Xbox X360 XB1
2000 Hitman: Codename 47 No No No No No Yes No No No No No
2002 Hitman 2: Silent Assassin Yes Yes No No No Yes No No Yes No No
2003 Freedom Fighters Yes Yes No No No Yes No No Yes No No
2004 Hitman: Contracts No Yes No No No Yes No No Yes No No
2006 Hitman: Blood Money No Yes No No No Yes No No Yes Yes No
2007 Kane & Lynch: Dead Men No No Yes No No Yes No No No Yes No
2009 Mini Ninjas No No Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No
2010 Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days No No Yes No No Yes No No No Yes No
2012 Hitman: Absolution No No Yes No No Yes No Yes No Yes No
2016 Hitman No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes[25] No No Yes



Last edited by harshbarj on 19 June 2017 at 7:54 pm UTC
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.