Will the two despicable best friends ever return for Kane & Lynch 3? Kane & Lynch has proven to be a divisive franchise. The original game was a third-person shooter that involved a mercenary named Kane who is forced to complete a job by ex-associates with the help of an unstable handler called Lynch. After a betrayal, the two must work together to survive, with the game being heavily inspired by Michael Mann movies Heat and Collateral. While the game had great writing, voice acting, and some fun levels, it suffered from wonky controls and bugs. It also became infamous when former GameSpot editor Jeff Gerstmann was dismissed from the website for giving Kane & Lynch: Dead Men a mixed review, with publisher Eidos having heavily advertised the title on the site during its release.
Kane & Lynch still sold well and sequel Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days found the pair involved in a job in China that goes very, very wrong. The game employed a handheld, documentary-style, which came complete with sound distortion and violent images like headshots being blurred. Dog Days received a very mixed reaction, with some loving its gritty aesthetic while others felt it was an ugly, shallow experience. The game also sold well and a movie adaptation starring Bruce Willis (Die Hard) and Jamie Foxx was announced, but after being delayed from a 2011 release date it appears to have been quietly cancelled.
In spite of the mixed reaction to both titles, Kane & Lynch still have their fans, and there’s no other gaming series quite like it. Its been nearly a decade since their last solo game, so will Kane & Lynch 3 ever happen?
Kane And Lynch Cameod In Hitman: Absolution
Hitman: Absolution from 2012 is one of the least liked entries in IO Interactive’s beloved series, but it still had its charms. Chief among them are the brief but hilarious cameos from both Kane and Lynch, with the former being seen in a bar and the other at a gun range. The pair appear to be on another job and Agent 47 can even kill them both.
IO Interactive Lost The Rights To Kane & Lynch
IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak revealed in a 2017 interview that following the developer’s divorce from Square Enix, they lost the rights to Kane & Lynch. Kane & Lynch 3 was apparently once in development at IO Interactive, but the reception to both Hitman: Absolution and Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days resulted in it being cancelled. Losing the rights makes it very unlikely IO will be involved in future titles in the series.
Kane & Lynch 3 Probably Won’t Happen
Sad as it is to admit, Kane & Lynch 3 is unlikely. Outside of the now cancelled movie, there’s been little to no sign of movement on the franchise since 2010, and the lingering negative reaction to both games means Square Enix is unlikely to see the value in spending the money to develop a third game.
Next: How Long Does Hitman 2 Take To Beat?
