Next-gen Hitman already in development?

A new Hitman title is currently in development for Xbox 360 and PS3, but it is now being rumoured that work on a brand new entry in the series for next-gen platforms is already underway.

Publisher Square Enix yesterday announced the opening next year of a brand new development studio in Montreal, and its first project is a new game based on IO Interactive’s IP.

Around 150 jobs will be created in the process. Fellow studio Eidos Montreal is also on the look out for 100 new developers.

Now Eurogamer claims to have word from a source that the studio has in fact been tasked with creating a next-generation entry in the Hitman series for the successors to Xbox 360 and PS3.

It has been confirmed that IO has pledged three staff members for the new project.

"Square Enix Montreal will work in step with IO Interactive so we can both contribute great games to the Hitman franchise in the future,” new studio head Lee Singleton told Gamasutra.

We will increase the frequency of game releases, but we have no plans to migrate the franchise to Montreal in its entirety.”