Hitman maker contracts new shooter

In March 2004, a financial report filed by Eidos Interactive indicated that a sequel to Freedom Fighters was in the works. While this thrilled fans of the critically acclaimed tactical shooter at the time, nothing has been heard about the project since, leading many to think it has been put on indefinite hold.

This week, news emerged that casts further doubt over the probabilty of a Freedom Fighters sequel happening any time soon--if at all. The cover story of the just-released August issue of Game Informer reveals that Io Interactive, developer of Freedom Fighters and Hitman: Blood Money, is currently developing an all-new intellectual property.

Titled Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, the new game is being developed for the Xbox 360 and PC. Described as "a third-person action game...with a full co-op play option, intuitive squad tactics, and a hearty online multiplayer component," the game will follow a mercenary and a "psychopath" who come into a large quantity of cash. Presumably, gameplay will involve taking said cash and making a clean getaway. No release date was given.

If Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is now the new focus of Io's efforts, where does that leave the Freedom Fighters sequel? For now, that remains unclear. Attempts to elicit comment from representatives of Eidos Interactive, owner of Io, were unsuccessful as of press time.