007 First Light Won’t be a Reskin of Hitman – IO Interactive

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Following IO Interactive’s reveal of several features for their upcoming game, 007 First Light, it has been made clear that

Smit mentioned the team responsible for creating “007 First Light,” and spoke about how the studio has expanded since the game was initially announced. He described the development of the upcoming “James Bond” title as a significant expansion period for IO Interactive as a collective entity.

Smit mentioned that our team, which is incredibly skilled, has grown significantly since the game’s initial announcement. This growth sparked even more interest, allowing us to recruit exceptional new talent. This influx of fresh talent has not only strengthened our existing team at the studio but also marked a significant period of expansion for us as a company.

IO Interactive’s new hires were praised by Smit for distinguishing the upcoming title, “007 First Light,” from their previous work on “Hitman.” He emphasized that these fresh talents brought “novel perspectives and expertise” to the table. They managed to create a distinct game while still capitalizing on IO Interactive’s 25-year legacy, focusing first and foremost on the gameplay experience and user experience. Essentially, while “Hitman” maintains its unique identity due to specific design choices, “007 First Light” presents a different gaming experience, neither being a mere reskin of the other.

As a game developer working on 007 First Light, let me tell you about one of the big hurdles we faced – creating brand new game mechanics, such as player-controlled vehicles. This is something our studio hadn’t tackled before in games like Hitman. It was a massive challenge, not one we underestimated. We had to assemble a team with specific driving expertise, including people who could code, set up, fine-tune, and balance these vehicle controls to make the gameplay smooth and enjoyable.

Certainly, creating a vehicle that feels thrilling yet trustworthy, while maintaining an element of danger but still keeping it enjoyable for a broad audience, is indeed a delicate act. Yes, striking this balance can be quite challenging and even an exciting new journey for us. And I’m delighted to report that we believe we’ve achieved something truly remarkable.

The video game titled “007 First Light” is scheduled for launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on March 27, 2026. During a State of Play event earlier this week, several new features were unveiled, including stealth gameplay, a thrilling high-speed car chase, an action-packed plane boarding sequence, hand-to-hand combat, deception, and access to various gadgets as players assume the role of James Bond. These aspects were highlighted during the presentation.

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2025-09-04 15:12