Several developers from IO Interactive have recently spoke with PC Gamer on the fundamental approach in direction that they took in their upcoming James Bond game 007: First Light which is vastly different from their earlier Hitman series of titles along with what makes playing as Bond a strikingly different experience than Agent 47, from a gameplay perspective.
Right at the start of the interview, IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak pointed out that compared to James Bond, who is “very much a personality”, Agent 47 is rather “an empty shell”. While First Light’s narrative and cinematic director Martin Emborg elaborated that “You need a lot of patience to play Hitman. You need to be sitting there, seeing the patrol – he goes over there, and he likes wine, and you overhear that thing. But Bond, he can also just walk through the front door. ‘I’m actually just going to go and talk to them. I’m just going to go punch him right now’.”
Art director Rasmus Poulsen added “If Hitman is a single-minded killer and basically the bad guy of the game, Bond is the hero.”
“That means that we are much more focused on his journey as a character, and we are much more focused on saving the world.”
Previously, CEO Hakan Abrak had also assured fans of the Hitman series of games that even though IO Interactive is currently focused on their new IP and bringing Bond to life in their upcoming game, the Hitman series is actually far from over.
“The Hitman series is definitely not done,” Abrak stated. “We’re not done with Hitman. IO has been synonymous with Hitman, despite the other IPs we have done. We absolutely are proud, grateful, and happy with Hitman. But obviously doing another new IP, Project Fantasy, and doing Bond, it takes a lot of our resources and time. But as you saw, we announced the Hitman co-op, which is a big dream of mine. And they will be maybe in different shapes, but they will definitely be more Hitman in the future.”
007: First Light is expected to come out sometimes in 2026 and is up for wishlisting on Steam right now.
