We’re already anticipating the 5th installment in the Hitman series, called Hitman: Absolution. However, according to a new trademark filing in Europe, developer IO Interactive is looking to trademark “Hitman: Profession“. This could possibly be the next installment in the series, after Absolution is released next year. However, it could also be a spin-off, possibly a mobile game. Or perhaps it could be something completely different: a book, comic book, etc. Let the speculation begin!

Danish developer IO Interactive has revealed the latest entry in their Hitman series, called Hitman: Absolution, the company revealed in a new trailer, which you can find above. The game will be built using IO Interactive’s brand new, proprietary engine called Glacier 2 The trailer include a number sequence “110706″, adding a few periods gets us a full reveal date: 11.07.06. In other words, at E3 next month. However, Hitman Absolution will be showcased behind closed doors to a selected few only.

Danish developer IO Interactive, developers of Hitman and Kane & Lynch, have had a second round of laid offs this year, this time, 30 employees were let go. Earlier this year, IO laid off 20, which now brings the total workforce to 160 staffers. According to rumors, the lay offs were a result of a canceled Microsoft project, but IO wouldn’t comment on that, as they’re now owned by Square Enix.

If you’re anxiously awaiting to get your hands on the latest and greatest addition to the Kane & Lynch series you’ll be happy to hear that Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days has just been dated for a August 24th North American launch (August 27th everywhere else). Kane & Lynch 2 will be different from the first since you’ll be taking the reigns of Lynch this time around.

Expect a whole slew of game play footage, screen shots and everything else in the coming months.

via thatvideogameblog

IO Interactive, the Danish developer (owner by Square Enix), is best known for the Hitman franchise and the recent Kane & Lynch and Mini Ninjas (read our Mini Ninjas review).

While the developer has confirmed it’s working on Hitman 5 and Kane & Lynch 2, CVG reports that a secret source tells them IO is working on a game “unlike anything else”, and note: “Imagine all the violence of Hitman and Kayne & Lynch but not scripted”.

The release of Kane & Lynch was surrounded by controversy: the game was critically panned, but sold well, and it was at the center of one of gaming’s biggest scandals of all time – the firing of Gamespot editor Jeff Gerstmann.

Gamesradar talked with Jens Peter Kurup of IO Interactive about the review scores the game got, focusing on the impact negative reviews can have on a developer’s morale, among others.

Kurup agrees with most of the criticisms they got, including the control scheme, but takes issue with how gamers did not take to the characters of the story.

“If you want to mirror your happy face in shining knight’s armour then Kane and Lynch 1 isn’t the place to look, and people have every right to dislike that,” he said. “I just don’t agree. I’m sick of likeable characters.”

… Wait… did he just say Kane & Lynch 1? Ah well, it’s time for a sequel anyway!