Rumor: No new Hitman until at least late 2011

This week, Hitman 5 artwork popped up online, raising the eyebrows of excited fans. IO Interactive took the wind out of their sails, saying that the artwork (pictured above) “does not represent any new Hitman game.”

Now, according to Eurogamer’s sources, word has come that a new Hitman game is indeed int he works. Thing is, we don’t be seeing it until holiday of 2011 at the earliest. Play.com backs up the sources information, listing the unannounced title for a November 28, 2011 release date. While it seems unlikely that a retailer would have such a date set in stone so far in advance, it’s an interesting place to find Eurogamer’s rumor corroborated.

Back to that artwork: the source also indicated that while IO wrote it off, it’s “likely” related to the upcoming title.

Hitman 5 out Xmas 2011 “at the earliest” [Eurogamer]