007: First Light Developer Will Make More Hitman Games in the Future – CEO

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IO Interactive is currently working on the new James Bond game, 007: First Light, but CEO Hakan Abrak has assured fans they will return to the Hitman series in the future. In a recent Variety interview, Abrak explained that IO Interactive usually develops its own original stories, making 007: First Light a unique project as it’s the only game they’ve made based on someone else’s intellectual property.

As a big fan of IO Interactive, it’s really interesting to hear how much they focus on creating their own worlds! Apparently, the James Bond game is the only licensed property they’ve ever worked on – everything else is totally original. They’ve been building towards a spy/agent game for about 25 years, so picking up ‘007’ just felt like a perfect fit. But honestly, it’s always been ‘Hitman’ that’s been their main game, the one they’ve really poured their heart and soul into since the studio began. It’s clear ‘Hitman’ is what IO Interactive is truly known for and loves!

Abrak mentioned that while Hitman 3—now called Hitman World of Assassination because it combines all three recent Hitman games—won’t be the last Hitman game IO Interactive creates, the studio is working on several other projects. This means a completely new Hitman title might be a while off, as they’re also developing a co-op Hitman experience.

“So of course there will be more ‘Hitman,’” he said. “But right now, I think we need to get to the other side of this year and next year you’ll get more news about ‘Hitman’ co-op, because I think co-op is a really, really good extension to the universe, and will introduce very interesting mechanics and combinations in ‘World of Assassination.’ But we will, after that, be talking about the next ‘Hitman’ — because, of course, there’s going to be a next ‘Hitman.’”

Although we don’t yet know what a new Hitman game might be like, lead level designer Jacob Mikkelsen says the studio doesn’t regret any of its past Hitman titles. He shared his experiences working on the series, and while he pointed out that 2012’s Hitman: Absolution was different due to its more straightforward level design, he also explained that the team still gained valuable knowledge from making it.

Mikkelsen explained he doesn’t want to revisit or alter past work. While ‘Absolution’ is notably distinct, it was very much a game of its time. The team aimed to prioritize story over gameplay, a shift from previous titles, and to try new gameplay formats. This experimentation ultimately led to improvements in key areas like mechanics, AI, controls, camera work, and shooting, helping them understand how to make those elements even better in future games.

Combining that approach with the creative freedom we had with ‘Blood Money’ gave us a great base to build from, and honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. Thinking back over the years, even all the way to ‘Contracts’ in 2003, gaming was a very different world. It was much more niche then, while now everyone is gaming on all sorts of devices.

Just heard some awesome news! Looks like I’ll be able to play 007: First Light on my PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, or even the new Nintendo Switch 2 on March 27, 2026. Can’t wait!

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2025-12-01 18:11