After a six-year hiatus, Hitman: Absolution (2012) was published, and a high-definition port of the original three console games in 2013, both by Square Enix.

After another hiatus from the main series, the next game titled Hitman (2016) was released, also published by Square Enix.

Mainline games in the Hitman series have been generally well-received, with most critics praising the take on stealth gameplay and freedom of approach.

Originally, IO wanted to create a "simple shooter" titled Rex-Domonius, but the idea was scrapped by Reto-Moto.

[5] Danish designer Jacob Andersen is responsible for the genesis of Hitman: Codename 47 and its depiction of protagonist Agent 47.

Andersen is quoted saying, "We decided to do a quick game inspired by Hong Kong action movies... Basically a guy in a suit blasting away in a Chinese restaurant".

[6] Codename 47 was published by Eidos Interactive in 2000 and released for Windows hardware because "it was hard for us to get hold of development kits", Andersen recalls.

[5] The first sequel in the series, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, was developed by IO and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, and Xbox in October 2002, and GameCube in June 2003.

The gameplay of Silent Assassin builds upon that of Codename 47, focusing more on its stealth mechanics and introducing features such as the option for a first-person view, the ability to incapacitate enemies instead of killing them, and missions with different approaches.

[5] "Now that the main platform was PS2, we felt more at home", Andersen remembers, though some players of the original were dissatisfied with the introduction of a mid-level save system.

The controls were improved and the team tried to fix AI problems, but non-player characters found new ways to misbehave.

It was developed by IO and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Xbox in April 2004.

IO and Eidos both put resources into Blood Money, achieving major improvements to the graphics, AI, and level design.

[5] Upon release, Absolution received mixed-positive reviews, with many fans of the earlier Hitman games criticizing the departure from the classic gameplay formula.

The game does not include any story elements and focuses on Agent 47 executing targets from a static location using a sniper rifle.

Titled Hitman, the game's first level was released in March 2016[29] for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to highly positive reviews.

IO Interactive supported Hitman 3 extensively with several releases of downloadable content and free updates that added new features, game modes, and a new map.

[39][40][41] The main games in the Hitman franchise have received generally positive reviews for their level design and gameplay elements.

Jim Preston reviewed the PC version of the game for Next Generation, rating it three stars out of five, and calling it "A deeply flawed masterpiece that will, nonetheless, reward forgiving gamers.

[5] Silent Assassin received generally positive reviews from critics, who considered it to be an improvement over its predecessor in every aspect.

However, many critics and many long time fans of the series disliked the game for its linear structure, as opposed to the open ended nature of previous installments.

[94] It received a mixed-positive review as noted by PlayStation Country, who gave the score a 7/10: "As a remaster, Hitman HD Enhanced Collection does deliver the best looking edition of these games to consoles.

However, the game received a positive reception with praise for the art, aesthetics, simple gameplay mechanics, and translation of Hitman to a mobile device.

The film, titled Hitman, is set in a separate continuity from the game series, directed by Xavier Gens and starring Timothy Olyphant as Agent 47.

Executive producer Vin Diesel was originally cast to play Agent 47 but was replaced for unknown reasons.

Unlike the game wherein the hitmen are contracted from a range of backgrounds, the Organization instead recruits orphans and trains them from an early age.

[103] On 5 February 2013, it was reported that the film series was being rebooted with the title Hitman: Agent 47, directed by Aleksander Bach.

[105][106] The film also stars Zachary Quinto,[107] Hannah Ware,[108] Thomas Kretschmann,[109] Dan Bakkedahl[110] and Ciarán Hinds.

[112] In May 2017, the Game Central reporters at Metro UK suggested that the shared universe was unlikely, pointing out that no progress had been made on any Just Cause, Deus Ex nor Thief films.

[citation needed] IO Interactive partnered with Dynamite Entertainment to create Agent 47: Birth of the Hitman, a six-issue comic book miniseries that ran from November 2017 to June 2018, and was later released as a graphic novel in 2019.