Io Interactive appoints Hakan Abrak as new studio head

Former studio production director Hakan Abrak has been appointed as the new studio head of Hitman studio Io Interactive.

He replaces former studio head Hannes Seifert, who after seven years at Io Interactive has now left Square Enix to move on to pursue a new project nearer his home in Austria.

Abrak has been a part of Io Interactive for the last ten years, and moved into his new position at the start of 2017. He was also at the forefront of last year’s episodic Hitman title.

I am truly proud to take on the role of Studio Head at Io-Interactive – this is a studio I am fiercely passionate about," Abrak said in a statement.

"We have established a strong direction for Hitman and as a studio we will continue to innovate and push into the digital gaming space as we strive to build unique experiences in gaming.”

Square Enix recently released a physical edition of last year’s Hitman in Steelbook form. Hitman: The Complete First Season debuted at No.4 in the UK Charts on release, and includes a Making Of documentary, the official soundtrack, three bonus missions and the Requiem Blood Money pack as well as all five episodes from the main game.

"The Hitman series and Agent 47 in particular are incredibly well-known and we have a big opportunity to make this the key release of 2017," Square Enix UK’s senior product manager Chris Arnold told MCV.