As IO Interactive shares about its new James Bond game, “There are a lot more options in this game compared to Hitman.”
It seems that IO Interactive Bond might become a milestone for the studio, known for the widely beloved Hitman series. As the developer notes, “It enables us to do wider fantasies and wider experiences for the players.” Does this mean changes so drastic that long-time fans of the studio’s work may not like the upcoming installment? Not exactly!
A peek into new Bond gameplay
The upcoming First Light is an exciting espionage game featuring a young James Bond in MI6’s training program. In other words, we finally get to see the origins of this most famous spy! Like Hitman, the title features mission sandbox gameplay, but that’s where the similarities end.
As Martin Emborg (Cinematic and Narrative Director on 007 First Light) says in the interview with Epic Games, “In Hitman, the Grim Reaper walks into a room of people just living their lives, one of them has to die, and the player can then decide which path to take to make that happen. That pace doesn’t match the Bond experience at all. We’re making an action-adventure game, and all the momentum sits with the character of James Bond. It’s a very character-driven experience.”
More freedom in players’ hands
This new approach to game development suggests that players can expect more freedom during missions. As we know from the official trailer, the title will feature stealth mechanics, shooting, and, for the first time, driving – absent from the Hitman series. It turns out that, unlike Hitman, the new Bond game will be less punishing for using direct violence. Instead, it will balance all these features to provide players with all the tools required to enjoy the experience.
As IO’s 007 franchise director Jonathan Lacaille says in an interview with Games Radar, “We don’t want the game to just go by shooting and shooting and shooting. We want to give the player a lot of tools to feel as smart as Bond in the game.” When asked if the new game is more of a linear, cinematic action title or the classic IOI design seen in the Hitman series, he replied, “It’s neither. IOI has a pedigree, and that fits really well with the [007] IP, so we are leaning into that, of course. But that would not tell the full story… we are leaning a lot on what IOI does best.”
What does this all mean?
Recent developer statements suggest that the upcoming Bond gameplay will be something in-between rather than a copy of its previous inspiration. Therefore, long-time fans of the studio’s signature style shouldn’t worry about the changes. While the game introduces new features that enhance immersion and player freedom, the developers are also building on their existing knowledge.
As Lacaille says, “We’re leaning a lot on what IOI does best, but we had to come up with a lot of new things that IOI had to learn and reiterate on to really bring the full Bond experience. For instance, driving, not done that before, and we’re doing that now.”
As Martin Emborg notes, “There’s so many things you’ll be able to point to that will cater to super diehard Bond fans. We’ll have things where fans will say ‘I know what that is’ or ‘I know why he’s saying that.’ But we also didn’t want to have references get in the way of our story. Origin stories can quickly become obnoxious in that regard, and I do feel we avoided that feeling.”
Fan expectations
Although the game is still about a year away from its release, players are already discussing the acquired news. As user Retrorrific notes on r/HiTMAN, “To earn 00-status in the first place, you need to kill exactly two people on the orders of MI6. So I think the game might give you two very Hitman-like levels at the start, where the goal is to take out targets, but as the game progresses it will introduce new gameplay mechanics and ease you into a new mode of play more in line with the Bond franchise, with a focus on investigation and espionage.”
User Left4DayZGone adds, “But while Hitman amuses the player with comically devious Rube Goldberg machinations of death, 007 will have to entertain the player by giving them opportunities to feel as clever as Bond when exploiting a system to bypass security.”
While we still don’t have enough information to confirm these predictions, player expectations paint a pretty intriguing picture of this upcoming release. If IO Interactive truly combines existing experience with new solutions, 007 First Light might become a global phenomenon.
Platforms and release date
While the exact release date is not yet known, we already know that the title will launch in 2026 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. Players can add it to their wishlist now, and those who decide to sign up for an IOI account will receive extra bonuses at launch and later. This mission starts now – sign up and unlock exclusive rewards!
Sources:
- https://www.gamesradar.com/games/hitman/007-first-light-isnt-an-uncharted-style-action-game-but-its-not-just-another-hitman-game-either-we-are-leaning-a-lot-on-what-ioi-does-best/
- https://store.epicgames.com/pl/news/007-first-light-interview-summer-game-fest-io-interactivehttps://ioi.dk/007firstlightgame/news/2025/007-first-light-announcement
- https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/after-years-of-preparation-ioi-is-ready-to-apply-its-lethal-learnings-to-007-first-light
- https://www.gamesradar.com/games/third-person-shooter/hitman-dev-says-007-first-light-isnt-just-shooting-and-shooting-and-shooting-and-spy-gadgets-will-allow-for-varied-and-spread-out-approaches-to-missions-in-the-james-bond-game/