IO Interactive Seeks to Innovate with Vibrant New Online RPG, Project Fantasy

IO Interactive's Project Fantasy will be a very vibrant game, and the Hitman developer is looking closely at what sort of innovation it can introduce with the new game.

GamesRadar+ spoke to IO Interactive chief development officer Veronique Lallier about the state of the developer in 2024, and as part of that conversation, broached the topic of Project Fantasy. The developer announced the online RPG last year in 2023, in what was seen at the time as a step in a big new direction for the studio most famously known for the Hitman trilogy.

While details remain scarce, Lallier expressed enthusiasm for the new game's potential. As a passionate fan of fantasy games, Lallier believes it will be well-received once it hits the market. The IOI lead also mentioned that the team is keen on understanding what sort of innovation they can bring to the genre.

Lallier highlights the recent Hitman trilogy's innovation, particularly the use of disguises to blend seamlessly into different roles, as a key example. She hopes Project Fantasy will follow a similar path and introduce significant innovation to the industry.

She mentioned that the new online fantasy RPG promises to be a very vibrant game, steering away from darker fantasy themes. Lallier emphasized that it's a passion project for the studio, with the online component allowing IOI to engage closely with its community, a practice they've honed through the Hitman series over the past eight years.