Hitman developer IO Interactive is working on an online fantasy RPG

The developer of the critically acclaimed Hitman franchise, IO Interactive, has announced that it is now working on a "bold new online fantasy RPG.”

The details:

• A new game codenamed "Project Fantasy" is in development at the Danish company, according to a new page on its website. The game will be "built from the core to entertain players and expand for many years to come," said the studio. The project's style is a significant departure from the developer's previous titles, which are known to be more realistic and gritty games with a focus on single-player gameplay.
• So far, little is known about the project except that it will be an "online fantasy RPG" and that it will be worked on by all three of the company's studios in Copenhagen, Malmö, and Barcelona. There's also no word on what stage the project is in; however, the studio is hiring for some positions on the project via its careers page.
• IO Interactive is best known for its Hitman series, which debuted in 2002. The stealth franchise consists of 11 games, two live-action films, and two novels that follow the story of Agent 47, the iconic bald assassin. Following the release of Hitman: Absolution in 2012, the series' popularity began to dwindle before the studio rebooted the franchise, resulting in a trilogy of well-received titles.

Other upcoming game announcements and rumors:

• Mortal Kombat 12 was accidentally revealed during an earnings call last week. David Zaslav, CEO and President of Warner Bros. Discovery, confirmed that the title will be released in 2023.
• FromSoftware has confirmed that the first DLC for last year’s Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree, is now in development. There is no official release date for the expansion as of yet, but it has been speculated that some influencers may have been invited to play it at some point in the future.
• Ubisoft is reportedly going "all in" on the Assassin’s Creed franchise, with a total of 10 planned games in the works. Most recently, insider sources have claimed that three new projects from Ubisoft’s studios in Sofia, Chengdu, and Annecy have begun their prototyping and conceptual phases.