Hitman studio IO Interactive is reportedly working on an Xbox exclusive

Hitman studio IO Interactive is reportedly working on an exclusive game for Xbox, according to a report.

A video posted by Windows Central Gaming suggests that the Hitman developer has teamed up with Microsoft to work on the new “dragon-themed IP”, which will reportedly be published under the Xbox Game Studios banner.

The report refers to a GamesIndustry.biz interview with IO Interactive’s CEO Hakan Abrak, in which he confirmed the team was working on other projects besides an already announced James Bond title.

“Without going into too much detail, we have a third universe that we’re working actively on, which is a bit different and absolutely a love child,” Abrak said in the interview.

“It is something our core people, our veteran staff, have been dreaming about for some time.”

Windows Central Gaming’s Jez Corden tweeted that he had evidence Microsoft and IO had been discussing the dragon-themed IP a while back, and that this interview with Abrak suggested the project was now underway.

This was corroborated by Twitter user Kobrille, who specialises in reporting on Xbox Game Studios news.

On the day the Abrak interview was published, Kobrille tweeted: “Sometimes there are gaming news which seem boring on the surface, but actually are the beginning of something ambitious and have a direct connection to Xbox. That sometimes moment happened this week.”

Following Windows Central Gaming’s report, Kobrille confirmed: “I guess this is out in the wild then. It’s early, and years away. But it’s exciting.”

Abrak recently said IO Interactive received a number of “really attractive” acquisition offers following its split from former parent company Square Enix, but ultimately chose to go it alone.

As well as the reported dragon-themed IP with Xbox, IO is currently working on an officially licensed James Bond game, with the working title Project 007.