IO Interactive today announced they have come to an agreement with publisher Square Enix to complete a management buyout, allowing IO Interactive to become a private studio once again. As part of the deal, IO Interactive is retaining the rights to the Hitman franchise, although who owns IO’s other franchises Mini Ninjas, Freedom Fighters, and Kane & Lynch was not made clear in the announcement.
IO Interactive was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1990 as an independent studio until they were purchased by long time publisher Eidos Interactive in 2004. IO Interactive was then picked up by Square Enix as part of the Eidos Interactive purchase in 2009.