Square Enix Announces New Hitman Game; Possibly For Next Gen Consoles

Before the release of Hitman Absolution, publisher Square Enix has confirmed the franchise will see a continuation after the next installment’s release.

The company’s Montreal studio will open in 2012, and staff member’s first job – of which there’ll be 150 jobs created – will be to work on a new Hitman title. So far, Square’s only revealed that the game will be ”a new premium quality game”.

The general manager of Square Enix London Studios, Lee Singleton, will be the head of Square’s Montreal studios upon its opening.

Interestingly, the publisher said on the announcement that their objective is for “building AAA games for tomorrow’s audiences”. Tomorrow’s audiences? The game may be heading towards next-generation consoles, if that subtle hint is anything to go by.

Square Enix Europe CEO, Phil Rogers, said on the announcement:

We believe in creating studios where passion for our games and gaming runs throughout and Eidos-Montréal is testament to this vision. The start up of a second studio brings a huge advantage to our business; we will nurture two separate studios with their own strengths, culture and appeal.

Hitman Absolution is currently scheduled for a release in 2012 for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.