For fans of the Hitman franchise, it was a little confusing as to why Square Enix decided to cease their contribution to the popular series and instead hand it back off to Interactive. It was a switch back of rights which made many wonder what the thought process was behind the action.

There was of course speculation of mal-intent and that there was a lot of bitterness involved in how the franchise was handled and its relationship with the developer. Despite the different rumors, Yosuke Matsuda, President of Square Enix, has finally decided to lay those rumors to rest once and for all.  In a new interview with GameIndustry.biz, Matsuda revealed the reasoning behind the huge decision:

In the case of Hitman, I personally love the game. I think it’s very unique, but I always have to look at things from the perspective of what it costs us to develop it and the performance it delivers. In doing that, in the case of Hitman, we had several expectations where that balance was not sufficiently achieved.

Whether it’s our Western studios or Japanese studios, at Square Enix we sometimes end up with conflicts or shortages in terms of resources. I felt that if we were not able to continue sufficiently investing in Hitman, it could wind up ruining the game – so we found ourselves in a difficult position.

A decision had to be made in terms of our relationship with the Hitman team. I wanted them to continue to develop the game, but I thought in terms of investing further in the game it would be best if they worked with another partner other than ourselves.”

The value of the franchise with their own fiscal results aside, the decision was not made lightly. In Matsuda’s words, they set the franchise free because he believed “it wouldn’t be Hitman unless it was Hitman made by IO.” He continued by showing his love for the franchise and, “I believe the fans of Hitman think it’s only Hitman if it’s made by IO. So I thought that was the best way for the game to continue, and that’s why we were supportive of the MBO and of course didn’t mind if they continued to use the IP.”

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There is no denying that Square Enix has their hands full with other AAA titles, including hinted at big plans for the Final Fantasy series. And who could forget about Kingdom Hearts III?! What do you think about the company’s decision concerning the Hitman franchise? Was this a smart move for the IP? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below, and don’t forget to check out DFTG on Twitter for gaming and entertainment news live 24/7!