Editing IO Interactive (section)

=== Further ventures (2000–2004) ===
In October 2001, Eidos Interactive announced ''[[Hitman 2: Silent Assassin]]'', a sequel to ''Codename 47''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-2-silent-assassin-announced/1100-2816436/ |title=Hitman 2: Silent Assassin announced |first=Trey |last=Walker |date=4 October 2001 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143508/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-2-silent-assassin-announced/1100-2816436/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following a slight delay in March 2002,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-2-delayed/1100-2855919/ |title=Hitman 2 delayed |first=Trey |last=Walker |date=17 May 2006 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142258/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-2-delayed/1100-2855919/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> it was released in October 2002, this time for Microsoft Windows, as well as [[PlayStation 2]] and [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-2-goes-gold/1100-2882045/ |title=Hitman 2 goes gold |first=Sam |last=Parker |date=30 September 2002 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143414/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-2-goes-gold/1100-2882045/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> To more easily overcome the challenge of bringing the game to consoles, IO Interactive grew "considerably" in headcount.<ref name="IGN" /> The game was received well by critics; according to Greg Kasavin in his review for ''[[GameSpot]]'', "''Hitman 2'' fixes virtually all of the problems of its predecessor".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/hitman-2-silent-assassin-review/1900-2884881/ |title=Hitman 2: Silent Assassin Review |first=Greg |last=Kasavin |date=8 October 2002 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142338/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/hitman-2-silent-assassin-review/1900-2884881/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The success of ''Silent Assassin'' came as a surprise to the team,<ref name="IGN" /> and was swiftly followed up with by porting the game to [[GameCube]] the following year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-2-announced-for-the-gamecube/1100-2896304/ |title=Hitman 2 announced for the GameCube |first=Justin |last=Calvert |date=31 October 2002 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140746/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hitman-2-announced-for-the-gamecube/1100-2896304/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2003, IO Interactive decided to open a Hungarian offshoot, named IO Interactive Hungary.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> To properly establish the studio, 50 Hungarian staff were hired and brought to the company's Copenhagen headquarters for a six-month training programme.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> However, after the training had been finished, IO Interactive realised that there were 50 people with talent but no leadership that could guide them when in Hungary.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> Instead of fulfilling the Hungarian subsidiary, IO Interactive opted to offer all 50 people jobs at their headquarters, to which most of them agreed.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> In October that year, [[Electronic Arts]] released ''[[Freedom Fighters (video game)|Freedom Fighters]]'', an IO Interactive-developed [[third-person shooter]] which was previously announced as ''Freedom: The Battle for Liberty Island'' in May 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/01/freedom-fighters-ships |title=Freedom Fighters Ships |first=David |last=Adams |date=1 October 2003 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140940/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/01/freedom-fighters-ships |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2002-freedomthe-battle-for-liberty-island-announced/1100-2866557/ |title=E3 2002: Freedom:The Battle for Liberty Island announced |first=Andrew |last=Park |date=21 May 2002 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143727/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2002-freedomthe-battle-for-liberty-island-announced/1100-2866557/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Although a sequel to ''Freedom Fighters'' has been anticipated, IO Interactive has been unable to comment on whether such a game was in development.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2010/01/15/io-gives-no-comment-to-freedom-fighters-2/ |title=IO gives "no comment" to Freedom Fighters 2 |first=Johnny |last=Cullen |date=15 January 2010 |website=[[VG247]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612145602/https://www.vg247.com/2010/01/15/io-gives-no-comment-to-freedom-fighters-2/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>