《刺客任務》系列開發商IO Interactive今日宣布，已完全收回《Project Fantasy》的全部所有權與開發權，該作是一款備受期待的在線奇幻角色扮演遊戲。公司決定獨立承擔後續開發與資金，不再尋求新的發行商或外部投資。
此次變動源於外部融資合作夥伴微軟(Xbox)退出該項目。IO Interactive隨即重新評估戰略，選擇將所有環節收歸內部。為此，公司不得不做出艱難決定——關閉2023年才設立的伊斯坦堡工作室。IO在聲明中稱這是「艱難但必要的一步」，以維持其作為全球為數不多的完全獨立AAA工作室之一的地位。
伴隨工作室關閉，IO Interactive已開始在各辦公室推進員工裁減。公司領導層表示，當前首要任務是「盡最大努力支持受影響的員工，幫助他們尋找新的機會」。
展望未來，IO Interactive將集中資源於《Project Fantasy》等主要內部項目，並退出外部開發合作與手遊業務。公司希望以此強化對品質和創意自主性的堅持。
Dear gaming community, Following the end of our external finance partnership on Project Fantasy, IOI has regained full ownership of the project and our IP. We will continue to develop and fund it independently amongst our other projects. With this context, we had to find a new balance for the long-term future of the studio, focused on the success of our main internal core titles instead of external projects and potential mobile game derivatives. This has meant making changes as well as proposed changes across our studios: the closure of our Istanbul studio and starting a process to part ways with colleagues who have been a meaningful part of what makes IOI what it is. Our immediate focus is on supporting those affected as best we can through this period. If you are aware of any opportunities within your network, we would be genuinely grateful for any support you can offer to any of the talented people across IOI who might be looking for new opportunities. These are hard, but necessary decisions, in order to retain the long-term future of IO Interactive as one of the very few fully independent AAA developer and publisher, as well as to give Project Fantasy the best possible foundation to succeed under our own passion and direction. Project Fantasy is a game, a world, and an IP that we are wholly committed to, and we cannot wait to share the love with you.
IO Interactive在聲明結尾向玩家表示：「《Project Fantasy》是一款遊戲、一個世界，也是一個我們全心投入的IP，我們迫不及待想與大家分享這份熱愛。」
