IO Interactive’s upcoming online fantasy RPG may very well be an Xbox exclusive, according to internal Microsoft documents.
In evidence submitted in the ongoing FTC v. Microsoft trial over the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, one specific document detailed Xbox’s research into potentially acquiring a number of companies, including Hitman developer IO Interactive. On a page listing “expected and previously shipped games,” IOI was listed as working on something called “Project Dragon,” an RPG shooter for PC and Xbox Series X and S. Elsewhere in the document, it is stated that Project Dragon is “for XGS Publishing,” or Xbox Game Studios.
“Project Dragon” was previously leaked via a Windows Central report as an Xbox-exclusive fantasy RPG. While never officially tied to IOI’s fantasy RPG announced earlier this year, it seems unlikely that the studio would be working on two fantasy RPGs simultaneously, alongside its planned James Bond game. The internal document combined with the internal report seems to indicate that this upcoming fantasy game will be and Xbox and PC-exclusive published by Xbox Game Studios and with significant Xbox support. Or at least, that seems to have been the case when the document was shared internally in May of 2021.
Few details have been revealed about IO Interactive’s fantasy RPG, but the studio has said the project is inspired by gamebooks like Fighting Fantasy. The genre represents a significant departure from IOI’s best-known franchise, Hitman.
IGN has reached out to both IO Interactive and Xbox for comment.
You can check out our daily roundups right here on IGN for updates on everything happening in FTC v. Microsoft, day by day, as well as catch up on our detailed analysis of day one and day two of the trial before it reconvenes tomorrow.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.
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