Hitman Developer Promised to Avoid More Toilets to Cut Development Expenses

In a revealing discussion, IO Interactive’s CEO, Hakan Abrak, shared insights on how avoiding the custom design of unique bathrooms in their Hitman game series has been a key strategy in optimizing production costs.

As the gaming industry grapples with layoffs, especially in AAA studios after successful launches, effective budget and resource management has become crucial to maintaining stability and minimizing workforce reductions.

During a June 24 episode of The Game Business Show podcast, Abrak discussed the development philosophy at IO Interactive. He emphasized that the strategic reuse of existing game assets has allowed the studio to adopt a more sustainable and cost-effective business model.

When asked about how IO has adapted to the increasing costs associated with game development, Abrak stated:

“Yeah, it’s a huge challenge, but somehow I think IO has been able to punch above our weight.”

He elaborated on the studio’s shift in approach, noting that while they had previously created brand new assets for each iteration of the Hitman series—even down to the bathrooms, which have become an iconic setting for disposing of bodies—they now focus on utilizing shared resources. Abrak remarked,

“We were just doing new everything, and it was just a throwaway… For Hitman ’16, we built it in a way where we knew we could do smart, accumulated content.”

Abrak highlighted that this shift towards asset reuse was initiated after the release of Hitman: Absolution. Reflecting on the studio’s evolution, he said, “If you just look at Hitman, the way we build, especially after Absolution, I was the EP on Absolution, and I swore never to do more new toilets.”

Budget Trends in the Hitman Series

The operational cost savings achieved by reusing assets, such as toilets, are just one aspect of how IO has managed its budget. Abrak conveyed that this strategy has not compromised the quality or critical reception of the games, despite the decreasing production budgets.

In his estimation, he shared the following financial overview of the series:

Hitman (2016): Approximately $100 million
Hitman 2: Around $60 million
Hitman 3: Roughly $20 million

While these figures are general estimates, the continuous high ratings across review platforms like Metacritic indicate that the series has maintained its critical acclaim since the 2016 relaunch.

Looking ahead, IO Interactive is set to release 007 First Light, a licensed action-adventure game set in the iconic James Bond universe, signaling their commitment to innovative and cost-effective game development.

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