Hitman 2 (2018 video game)

Hitman 2, a stealth game from 2018, was developed by IO Interactive. It serves as the eighth main entry in the Hitman series, following 2016's *Hitman* and acting as the second part of the World of Assassination trilogy. The narrative picks up from the previous game, focusing on genetically engineered assassin Agent 47 as he hunts the "Shadow Client," a figure aiming to dismantle Providence, a clandestine group controlling world events. The story also delves deeper into 47's own enigmatic past, with Providence offering to reveal details about it in return for his cooperation. Like its predecessor, the game revolves around six large, open sandbox locations where players can freely roam to discover ways to eliminate their targets. Two online multiplayer modes, Sniper Assassin and Ghost Mode, were included, but their servers have since been taken offline; Sniper Assassin remains playable in single-player.

The base game features six distinct locations: New Zealand, Miami, Colombia, Mumbai, Whittleton Creek, and a fictional North Atlantic island named Sgàil. After launch, two updates added settings in New York City and the Maldives. Sales of the 2016 *Hitman* did not meet expectations, leading publisher Square Enix to sell IO Interactive, which became independent through a management buyout. With limited funds, the studio laid off nearly half its staff and scaled back the sequel's scope, which was about 25% complete at the time. Because the framework was already built from the prior game, development of *Hitman 2* took roughly twenty-one months—faster than usual. The episodic release model of the previous game was dropped, and *Hitman 2* launched as a full product. IO Interactive continued to support it with post-launch content, including two paid maps, free elusive targets, and contracts.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment released *Hitman 2* for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in November 2018, with IO Interactive bringing it to Stadia in September 2020. Critical reception was generally positive, with many reviewers considering it an improvement over its predecessor, praising the varied locations, sandbox design, gameplay improvements, humor, and assassination opportunities. The story and multiplayer modes, however, received mixed reactions. The game recouped its development costs, but its launch during a crowded release window hurt sales.