IO teases characters from Agent 47 in upcoming Hitman co-op mode game

Developer IO Interactive announced it is developing a co-op mode for Hitman: World of Assassination. The mode is still relatively under wraps but features two names recognized by Hitman gamers: Stone and Knight. 

IO Interactive revealed that the co-op mode for Hitman: World of Assassination, called Stone & Knight, will allow two players to control agents Stone and Knight to tackle missions together.

On this co-op mode’s release, players will be able to pop into “exciting missions” from the Hitman world with their friends by their side. These missions will “challenge” players to rethink how they approach things now they are going in as one of a pair.

IO CEO Hakan Abrak said Agent 47 continues to “resonate” with audiences worldwide, proving the franchise’s enduring appeal as it approaches its 25th anniversary. He added that everyone at IOI extended sincere thanks to the global community of players, and they look forward to delivering many more hours of stealth, creativity, and signature assassinations in the years to come.

Elverdam confirms the return of Stone and Knight

During the IOI presentation, IO Interactive’s Chief Creative Officer Christian Elverdam said that the developer wanted players to team up with a friend and enjoy Hitman in co-op.

A quick pop over to the game’s fan wiki revealed that Stone and Knight were both playable characters in the Hitman 2: Sniper Assassin game mode and the Hitman Sniper: The Shadows mobile game. They worked together in both games, so they were a natural fit to bring over to a full-on Hitman co-op mode.

There are no details on how the mode would work at this point, nor is there a teaser or anything that could be shared. However, a few seconds of gameplay visible while Elverdam was talking revealed picture-in-picture action: One character in the foreground, the other in a smaller window in the bottom left.

Specific mechanics are unclear as it is early in development, but it may involve splitting tasks like distracting guards or eliminating targets, building on past modes like Sniper Assassin.

“So two new playable characters, Stone and Knight, return from their appearance in our sniper co-op mode to a full-blown Hitman co-op experience…We invite you to play a set of exciting missions across our World of Assassination and challenge you to re-think your approach now that you’re going to play as a duo.”

–Christian Elverdam, Chief Creative Officer at IO Interactive 

Fans were excited, but some worried about balancing the upcoming co-op duo with the game’s solo stealth focus. Both characters traded in their sniper rifles for silenced pistols and had the option of disguising themselves.

Elverdamn said it is still early days and added that more news about the new mode will be shared soon.

In addition to this little nugget, IO announced that Hitman: World of Assassination had reached the milestone of 25 million units sold. The developer added that the game had registered 80 million players, which took into account players from World of Assassination and its Free Starter Pack.

IO unveils Le Chiffre from Casino Royale as an elusive target

Developer IO Interactive also announced that Hitman is currently being updated to include a new elusive target – Le Chiffre from Casino Royale. The news was revealed on June 6, with actor Mads Mikkelsen joining Geoff Keighley and IO boss Hakan Abrak to announce the Hitman x Bond collaboration.

Mikkelsen said Le Chiffre is a character he always enjoyed because he is calculating, cold, and ruthless. He added that bringing Le Chiffre into the world of Hitman made for a thrilling collaboration. Players can expect mind games, high stakes, and twists that only this character could orchestrate. To succeed, Mikkelsen said they would need to play their hand wisely.

IO’s Hakan Abrak also said the team is beyond thrilled to welcome Mikkelsen to Hitman: World of Assassination. He added that players are really going to enjoy this new mission, which marks the return of Le Chiffre after nearly 20 years.

Abrak also said he is excited to see players jump into this small taste of bigger things to come in the Bond franchise from IO Interactive.

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