Editing IO Interactive (section)

=== Other games (2006–2010) ===
IO Interactive announced their next game, ''[[Kane & Lynch: Dead Men]]'', in August 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/08/19/gc-2006-kane-and-lynch-dead-men-revealed |title=GC 2006: Kane and Lynch: Dead Men Revealed |first=Erik |last=Brudvig |date=18 August 2006 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144126/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/08/19/gc-2006-kane-and-lynch-dead-men-revealed |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Unlike their ''Hitman'' games, ''Kane & Lynch: Dead Men'' played as a linear, [[Cooperative video game|cooperative gameplay]]-focused third-person shooter, as opposed to ''Hitman''{{'s}} sandbox solo stealth gameplay.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/06/28/kane-and-lynch-hands-on |title=Kane and Lynch Hands-on |first=Erik |last=Brudvig |date=27 June 2007 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612151616/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/06/28/kane-and-lynch-hands-on |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Released in November 2007,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/kane-and-lynch-dated |title=Kane & Lynch dated |first=Tom |last=Bramwell |date=27 September 2007 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142954/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/kane-and-lynch-dated |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> the game gained mixed reviews, wherein some reviewers felt like the game had a disconnect with modern gameplay styles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/11/27/kane-lynch-dead-men-review |title=Kane & Lynch: Dead Men Review |first=Erik |last=Brudvig |date=26 November 2007 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612151702/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/11/27/kane-lynch-dead-men-review |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 11 April 2008, four of IO Interactive's co-founders, Vorsholt Jørgensen, Pollas, Andersen and Guldbrandsen, announced that they had, together with former Eidos Interactive executive producer Neil Donnell, reformed Reto-Moto as an active developer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/52207/hitman-veterans-leave-io-form |title=Hitman Veterans Leave IO, Form Reto-Moto |first=Chris |last=Faylor |date=14 April 2008 |website=[[Shacknews]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140108/https://www.shacknews.com/article/52207/hitman-veterans-leave-io-form |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Guldbrandsen and Donnell became [[chief technology officer]] and [[chief executive officer]], respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gamasutra.com/view/news/109173/IO_Interactive_Founders_Reform_Reto_Moto.php |title=IO Interactive Founders Reform Reto Moto |first=Mathew |last=Kumar |date=11 April 2008 |website=[[Gamasutra]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143218/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/109173/IO_Interactive_Founders_Reform_Reto_Moto.php |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Six further IO Interactive employees followed to Reto-Moto in December that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/more-io-interactive-employees-join-reto-moto/ |title=More IO Interactive employees join Reto-Moto |first=Will |last=Freeman |date=12 December 2008 |website=[[MCV (magazine)|MCV]] |access-date=22 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922203413/https://www.mcvuk.com/more-io-interactive-employees-join-reto-moto/ |archive-date=22 September 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Co-founder and at the time [[managing director]] Flösser left the company in April 2008, and was succeeded by Niels Jørgensen, who had joined the company in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.computerworld.dk/art/45384/janos-fl-sser-forlader-io-interactive |title=Janos Flösser forlader IO Interactive |language=da |trans-title=Janos Flösser leaves IO Interactive |first=Nicolai |last=Devantier |date=16 April 2008 |website=[[Computerworld|Computerworld.dk]] |access-date=25 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826043835/https://www.computerworld.dk/art/45384/janos-fl-sser-forlader-io-interactive |archive-date=26 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2009, Eidos Interactive announced IO Interactive-developed ''[[Mini Ninjas]]'', a family-friendly game, as opposed to all of the studio's previous titles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/io-interactive-ditches-hitmen-for-ninjas |title=Eidos unveils new Mini Ninjas game |first=Robert |last=Purchese |date=19 January 2009 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612150447/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/io-interactive-ditches-hitmen-for-ninjas |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Jørgensen explained that, using ''Mini Ninjas'', the studio wanted to reach a broader demographic in the gaming market.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> Shortly after the announcement of ''Mini Ninjas'', in April 2009, Eidos Interactive was acquired by Japanese video game conglomerate [[Square Enix]] for {{GBP|84.3&nbsp;million}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/square-enix-closes-on-eidos-final-fantasy-sells-85-million/1100-6208436/ |title=Square Enix closes on Eidos, Final Fantasy sells 85 million |author=Gamespot Staff |date=25 April 2009 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140552/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/square-enix-closes-on-eidos-final-fantasy-sells-85-million/1100-6208436/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Eidos Interactive was reorganised over the course of 2009 and became known as Square Enix Europe in November that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/goodbye-eidos-hello-square-enix-europe/ |title=Goodbye Eidos, hello Square Enix Europe |first=Alexander |last=Sliwinski |date=10 November 2009 |website=[[Engadget]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135921/https://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/goodbye-eidos-hello-square-enix-europe/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Square Enix Europe continued to oversee their previously owned development studios, including IO Interactive.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/square-enix-confirms-european-identity |title=Square Enix confirms European identity |first=Phil |last=Elliott |date=10 November 2009 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141944/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/square-enix-confirms-european-identity |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Speaking for IO Interactive, Karsten Lund stated that the studio experienced "no loss of freedom" following the buyout.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2010/01/15/no-loss-of-freedom-after-eidos-square-enix-takeover-says-io/ |title=No loss of "freedom" after Eidos-Square Enix takeover, says IO |first=Johnny |last=Cullen |date=15 January 2010 |website=[[VG247]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612145942/https://www.vg247.com/2010/01/15/no-loss-of-freedom-after-eidos-square-enix-takeover-says-io/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

A sequel to ''Kane & Lynch: Dead Men'', titled ''[[Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days]]'', was announced in November 2009,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/61294/kane-lynch-2-dog-days |title=Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days Announced |first=Alice |last=O'Connor |date=18 November 2009 |website=[[Shacknews]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://www.shacknews.com/article/61294/kane-lynch-2-dog-days |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> and released in August 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/03/17/kane-lynch-2-release-date |title=Kane & Lynch 2 Release Date |first=Erik |last=Brudvig |date=17 March 2010 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144025/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/03/17/kane-lynch-2-release-date |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Critics found that most elements in the game had deliberately been made "ugly" to better fit into the well-told story of the game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-05-13-kane-and-lynch-2-is-nasty-pointless-and-well-worth-playing |title=Kane & Lynch 2 is nasty, pointless, and well worth playing |first=Rick |last=Lane |date=13 May 2018 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144530/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-05-13-kane-and-lynch-2-is-nasty-pointless-and-well-worth-playing |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In a November 2009 interview with gaming website ''[[Gamasutra]]'', Jørgensen revealed that, due to the high costs associated with living in [[Scandinavia]], much of the company's graphic department had been outsourced to [[Shanghai]].<ref name="Gamasutra" /> The Chinese office had been set up by two Danish representatives from IO Interactive, with one Dane permanently residing in Shanghai to look over the outsourcing progress.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> In March 2010, 35 of previously 200 employees were let go from the company.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gamasutra.com/view/news/118797/Report_IO_Interactive_Makes_Round_Of_Layoffs.php |title=Report: IO Interactive Makes Round Of Layoffs |first=Kris |last=Graft |date=29 March 2010 |website=[[Gamasutra]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135914/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27854/Report_IO_Interactive_Makes_Round_Of_Layoffs.php |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/63060/layoffs-hit-hitman-developer-io |title=Layoffs Hit Hitman Developer IO Interactive |first=Brian |last=Leahy |date=30 March 2010 |website=[[Shacknews]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143840/https://www.shacknews.com/article/63060/layoffs-hit-hitman-developer-io |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> A further 30 people were laid off in November that year, supposedly due to the cancellation of a project that was in development for [[Microsoft]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/66278/io-interactive-lays-off-30 |title=IO Interactive Lays Off 30; Rumored to be Due to Canceled Microsoft Project |first=Brian |last=Leahy |date=1 November 2010 |website=[[Shacknews]] |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143123/https://www.shacknews.com/article/66278/io-interactive-lays-off-30 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>