If there’s a genre of games that genuinely speaks to me, it’s fantasy. Sure, horror will always be my favourite. Still, there is just something about the fantasy genre when it comes to games that can reach into my soul and ignite a sense of excitement within me that very few other genres can manage, which is why I’m so excited about this news.
IO Interactive, the developers possibly best known for their work on the wildly successful Hitman series, have started working on a new game which currently has no name but is going under ‘Project Fantasy”. According to IO Interactive, Project Fantasy is a bold new online fantasy RPG inspired by their love of Fighting Fantasy books.
An announcement on their website reads:
“After years of working on Hitman 1-3, we are sharing with all of you that we are embarking on a new adventure. One that expands our creativity, our capabilities, and in some sense our identity. We are building a new world, a new IP – an online fantasy RPG. A world and a game built from the core to entertain players and expand for many years to come. It feels familiar, yet at the same time, IOI is going on a journey unlike any we have been on before.
For many, this journey is also a deeply personal one that began long before we started making games for a living – and it started with the fantasy genre. From the ‘Fighting Fantasy’ books compelling you to choose your path, alone, against wizards, lizards, and thief kings. To the togetherness, camaraderie, agony, and delight found around the tabletop”. – IO Interactive
Currently, there isn’t a game to show, as IO Interactive announced early as they are recruiting a team to help build and work on it. The announcement included job listings for over 25 positions, from animators to programmers and designers.