Looking back over the past 25 years, the team at IO Interactive has every reason to feel proud. While many franchises that debuted in 2000, including Perfect Dark, SSX, Deus Ex, Jet Set Radio, and others, simply faded or stalled, Hitman not only survived but evolved into one of gaming’s most enduring and adaptable worlds.

But there are still stakes to adapting 007 for the current console era: to escape the shadow of GoldenEye and chase the glory of Daniel Craig’s Bond run, still IO had to put a fresh spin on a 72-year-old character without just copy-pasting the Agent 47 playbook.

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"But right now, I think we need to get to the other side of this year, and next year you'll get more news about Hitman co-op, because I think co-op is a really, really good extension to the universe and will introduce very interesting mechanics and combinations in World of Assassination.

IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak has made clear a new Hitman game will be coming at some point, while his colleagues compare Diana Burnwood to Eminem.

IO Interactive has had some big things to celebrate this fall, including the 25th anniversary of its "Hitman" franchise.

IO Interactive is busy working on James Bond video game 007 First Light, but it has said it also has plans to release Hitman 4 at some point.