As a gaming enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the upcoming James Bond game, 007: First Light. This is quite a shift for developer IO Interactive, given their main focus on the Hitman series. In an exclusive chat with PCGamer, art director Rasmus Poulsen discussed what makes Bond unique as a playable character, contrasting him with Hitman’s Agent 47. He described Bond as more of a “hero,” while Agent 47 would be seen as the “villain” in this context.
According to Poulsen, if Hitman is primarily a ruthless assassin and the antagonist in the game, then Bond is the protagonist. This implies that our focus will be heavily on Bond’s personal development as a character, rather than just on him killing, and we will concentrate more on his efforts to save the world.
Martin Emborg, known for his work as both a narrative and cinematic director, discussed distinctive aspects between Bond and Agent 47, mainly focusing on how they handle missions. As per Emborg, the ‘Hitman’ series emphasizes patience and learning details such as guard movement patterns. In contrast, ‘007: First Light’ will emphasize a sense of forward progression, encouraging players to adopt a more direct strategy when tackling a mission.
Emborg pointed out that playing “Hitman” requires a great deal of patience. You have to sit and wait, watching the patrol move around, maybe overhear something interesting about their wine preference. But unlike Bond, you can’t just casually stroll in through the front door or act impulsively by punching someone immediately.
Previously this week, franchise director Jonathan Lacaille discussed the gameplay for “007: First Light,” highlighting that IO Interactive must strike a balance between the open-ended gameplay from the “Hitman” series, which allows players to be more inventive, and “007: First Light’s” focus on set pieces and certain linearity.
As a gamer, I find myself torn between the pulse-pounding action in the 007 game and the intricate systemic gameplay reminiscent of Hitman. IOI’s background aligns perfectly with this IP, but it doesn’t fully capture who Bond truly is. So, while we’re leaning into that aspect, it’s only part of the story.
Lacaille explained that while we heavily rely on IOI’s strengths, there was a need for innovation as many new aspects had to be taught to IOI. These aspects were crucial in delivering the ultimate Bond experience. For example, something like driving, which IOI hadn’t done before, is now being handled by them.
In terms of gameplay, Lacaille pointed out that engaging in a shootout in Hitman is essentially regarded as a losing situation. However, in 007: First Light, if stealth doesn’t work out for the player, there are numerous tools provided to help fight back and continue the game.
Lacaille explained that in the game Hitman, shooting was often a failing condition, but here it plays a significant role. However, we aim for the game not to be just about repeated shooting. Instead, we want to equip players with numerous tools to make them feel as clever and cunning as Bond in the game.
007: First Light is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2026. Check out its recent trailer.
Read More
2025-06-11 17:12