IO Interactive is evaluating how it can support StadiaHitmanplayers following Google’s announcement that it’s shutting down the cloud-streaming platform. Google’s confirmation that Stadia would soon be turned off, with all purchases of games and hardware refunded, took many by surprise.Hitmanis just one example of a problem that apparently impacts IO Interactive and other game developers, who are left wondering how to support their Stadia communities soon to be without a platform to serve them.IfHitmanwas just another game available to purchase on Stadia, it might not be such a priority for IO Interactive to help the community. However, IO Interactive had a unique partnership with Stadia. Not only had IO Interactive releasedHitman 3on Stadia, but alsoHitman 1andHitman 2. Further, IO Interactive gave away afreeHitman 3 - Starter Packat one point. As far as communities went on Stadia, IO Interactive’sHitmangroups had quite the following due in part to the developer’s broad support.RELATED:Google Stadia Storefront Already RemovedWith that in mind, IO Interactive says that it wants to do something. The message from IO Interactive on Twitter, spoken directly toHitmanfans playing on Google Stadia, is that the development team is “looking into ways for you to continue yourHitmanexperience on other platforms.” No immediate solutions have yet been presented. The current expectation is that allHitman-related purchases will berefunded to Stadia users, regardless of what IO Interactive decides to do in the future.
It may seem like a simple problem, to some. IO Interactive could give PC keys forHitmangames to those who purchased them on Stadia and that would be that. However, theHitmanseries of games on Stadia do not have cross-progression.Hitmanplayers on Stadiacannot carry over their saves to PC or vice versa. That makes IO Interactive’s situation not just a customer service problem, but also a technical hurdle, too.
Offering Stadia playersHitmangame codes also doesn’t necessarily make sense. Stadia is a cloud service and the reason many people use it is to avoid having to pay for a gaming PC or console. WhileUbisoftis choosing to offer codes for games players own on Stadia, many won’t be able to use them. IO Interactive may be considering how realistic it will be to partner with another cloud-streaming service.
Getting Stadia users the games they bought on another platform, figuring out cross-progression, and ensuring those that use cloud streaming exclusively are taken care of are likely just a few of the challengesIO Interactivehas before it. It’s no surprise IO Interactive hasn’t dedicated itself to a path forward yet, but also good that it’s dedicated itself to something.Hitmanfans will hopefully be taken care of, in time.
