IO Interactive has combined its modern Hitman trilogy into a single service called the World of Assassination [1].

This unification allows the developer to maintain a persistent, evolving world rather than releasing standalone sequels. By consolidating the titles, the studio can implement cross-platform progression and add extensive new content across the entire series.

The compilation includes three games: Hitman, released in 2016 [1], Hitman 2 from 2018 [1], and Hitman 3 from 2021 [1]. The World of Assassination service officially launched in 2023 [2]. Along with the original stories, the service introduces new missions and a roguelite gameplay mode [2].

IO Interactive achieved this transition after becoming an independent studio, moving away from its former publisher, Square Enix [1]. This shift in corporate structure allowed the team to regain creative control over the franchise.

"Going independent gave us the freedom to build the World of Assassination the way we envisioned," Hannes Seifert, CEO of IO Interactive, said.

The service is available globally on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. A Signature Edition is also available for the Nintendo Switch [2]. Additionally, Hitman 3 VR has been released for the Meta Quest 3 [3].

"The Signature Edition finally brings the entire Hitman saga to the Switch in one seamless package," Ben Reeves said.

While some critics describe the interconnected stealth epic as a miracle, others argue that games from the 2010s are already aging like milk [1], suggesting the mechanics may feel dated to some players.

"Hitman 3 VR on Quest 3 captures the series' signature stealth with a fresh, immersive twist," Alex Walker said [3].

“"Going independent gave us the freedom to build the World of Assassination the way we envisioned,"”

The move toward a 'service' model for the Hitman trilogy reflects a broader industry trend of shifting from discrete product releases to live-service ecosystems. By unifying three separate games into one platform, IO Interactive can extend the lifecycle of the franchise and monetize a single entry point for new players while maintaining a consistent technical baseline across multiple hardware generations.