Danish developers IO Interactive, the team behind Hitman, has opened a new studio in Malmö, Sweden.
“The IOI expansion in Malmö was a natural choice as there is a very strong existing video game industry,” says Hakan Abrak, CEO, IO Interactive. “I believe it has all opportunities to become the epicenter of game development in Scandinavia.”
Other notable studios based in Malmö includes Massive Entertainment (The Division) and Simogo (Device 6, Sayonara Wild Hearts).
The move to create a second studio also a sign for the developers to support the Hitman series, as well as exploring potential new IPs.
Two years ago, IO was to be sold by owners Square Enix, which resulted in a management buyout. All the IPs IO created remained theirs. However, a restructuring had to happen to keep the studio afloat.
So it’s nice to see the developers are now back on their feet and stronger than ever. Their latest game, Hitman 2, is out now and you can check out our review here.