Editing IO Interactive (section)

=== Background and foundation (1997–1998) ===
[[File:IO Interactive sign.jpg|thumb|right|Sign outside IO Interactive's former location at Farvergade 2, Copenhagen]]
In 1997, [[Reto-Moto]] was founded as a [[video game developer]] in [[Copenhagen]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008/04/11/former-hitman-kane-and-lynch-creators-launch-reto-moto/ |title=Former Hitman, Kane and Lynch creators launch Reto-Moto |first=Jason |last=Dobson |date=11 April 2008 |website=[[Engadget]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144110/https://www.engadget.com/2008/04/11/former-hitman-kane-and-lynch-creators-launch-reto-moto/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Before the studio finished any games, they struck a partnership with Danish film studio [[Nordisk Film]] in 1998 that would lead to the creation of a developer [[joint venture|jointly owned]] by the two companies.<ref name="GameSpot">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-devs-go-solo-with-reto-moto/1100-6189099/ |title=Hitman devs go solo with Reto-Moto |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |date=11 April 2008 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162220/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-devs-go-solo-with-reto-moto/1100-6189099/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The resulting company, IO Interactive, was established on 16 September 1998,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://datacvr.virk.dk/data/visenhed?enhedstype=virksomhed&id=24216209&language=en-gb |title=IO Interactive A/S |website=Virk |access-date=22 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922203109/https://datacvr.virk.dk/data/visenhed?enhedstype=virksomhed&id=24216209&language=en-gb |archive-date=22 September 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> with Reto-Moto's seven employees—Jesper Vorsholt Jørgensen, Rasmus Guldberg-Kjær, Martin Munk Pollas, Karsten Lemann Hvidberg, Jacob Andersen, Janos Flösser, and David Guldbrandsen—serving as the founders and initial staff of IO Interactive.<ref name="Berlingske Business">{{cite web |url=https://www.business.dk/diverse/hitman-solgt-til-england |title=Hitman solgt til England |language=da |trans-title=Hitman sold to England |date=4 March 2004 |website=[[Berlingske Business]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527201639/https://www.business.dk/diverse/hitman-solgt-til-england |archive-date=27 May 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Gamasutra">{{cite web |url=https://gamasutra.com/view/news/117054/QA_The_Then_And_Now_of_Hitman_Dev_IO_Interactive.php |title=Q&A: The Then And Now of ''Hitman'' Dev IO Interactive |first=Thomas |last=Puha |date=18 November 2009 |website=[[Gamasutra]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143601/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/117054/QA_The_Then_And_Now_of_Hitman_Dev_IO_Interactive.php |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Nordisk Film and the seven founders each held a 50% stake in the venture.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> By March 2004, Nordisk Film owned 40.3% in IO Interactive.<ref name="Berlingske Business" />