IO Interactive has announced the termination of its partnership with Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor following a civil court ruling in Ireland that found him liable for sexually assaulting a woman in December 2018. The Copenhagen-based developer confirmed it will remove all content featuring McGregor from Hitman: World of Assassination, where he appeared as an Elusive Target earlier this year.
“In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately,” the studio said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications. Consequently, we will begin removing all content featuring Mr. McGregor from our storefronts starting today.”
The decision follows an Irish High Court ruling last week in favour of Nikita Hand, who accused McGregor of assaulting her in a Dublin hotel in 2018. The court ordered McGregor to pay Ms. Hand €248,000 (£206,000) in damages. While McGregor has denied the allegations and plans to appeal, Ms. Hand called the verdict a victory for survivors. “I want to show [my daughter] Freya and every other young girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and that justice will be served,” she said. Hand expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she received and emphasized the importance of speaking up.
Conor McGregor’s character, “The Disruptor,” debuted in Hitman: World of Assassination in June 2024 as part of a limited-time Elusive Target mission. The mission, which returned earlier this month, was scheduled to run until December 8, 2024. Additionally, a Disruptor DLC Pack offered permanent access to “The Ostentatious,” an arcade contract featuring the character, along with exclusive outfits, items, and cosmetics for the freelancer house.
However, following IO Interactive’s decision, the promotional trailer for the Disruptor Pack has been removed, and the associated DLC is no longer available on storefronts, including Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the PlayStation Store. Players who already purchased the content will still retain access, but it is unavailable for new buyers. While it is unclear whether the studio will replace McGregor’s voice work or remove his character entirely, this decision is a significant blow to the MMA fighter’s public image.
This fallout appears to be widening as more brands distance themselves from Conor McGregor. Proximo Spirits, the owner of Proper No. 12 Irish Whiskey, confirmed they will no longer use McGregor’s name or likeness in marketing, stating, “Since 2021, Proximo Spirits has been the 100 percent owner of Proper No. 12 Irish Whiskey. Going forward, we do not plan to use Mr. McGregor’s name and likeness in the marketing of the brand,” as reported by the Irish Independent. Similarly, several retailers in Ireland have begun removing his branded products, including Proper No. 12 whiskey and Forged Irish Stout beer, from their shelves. The consequences of the court ruling are becoming increasingly visible, with McGregor’s once-prominent public partnerships rapidly unraveling.
Words by Khushboo Malhotra
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