Summary
The head ofIO Interactive, the studio responsible for the popular stealth seriesHitman,provided an update on the progress of its next game that’s sure to get James Bond fans excited. CodenamedProject 007, this new Bond game was first revealed in 2020, and is being fully funded, developed, and published byIO Interactive.
It’s been nearly four years since IO Interactive’s latest game,Hitman 3, was released to high praise, concluding the studio’s rebootedHitmantrilogy that began in 2016. Just last year, IO releasedHitman: World of Assassination,a compilation that bundles 2016’sHitmanreboot,Hitman 2, andHitman 3all in one hub. AlongsideProject 007,IO Interactive has also been working on a fantasy RPGknown asProject Dragonin collaboration with Xbox Game Studios.
Inspeaking with IGN, CEO of IO Interactive Hakan Abrak shared some new information about the studio’s upcoming Bond game,Project 007, revealing that it’ll introduce a younger James Bond in an original story. He also made it known that there are aspirations at the studio forProject 007to eventually become a trilogy, and that development is going smoothly. Abrak cited theteam’s work withHitmanas key experience forProject 007, saying, “We absolutely feel like 20 plus years of training for the agent fantasy, creating an agent that travels the world and globetrotting whatnot, has given us some know-how on that. But obviously James Bond is a different IP.”
IO’s Project 007 Will Introduce A Younger James Bond With An Original Story
During the interview, Abrak pointed out how the gaming landscape isn’t saturated with James Bond games, or stealth games in general, for that matter. The most recent Bond game, Activision’s007 Legends, was released over a decade ago in 2012 and was panned by critics and audiences. Such a gap could prove to be a boon forIO Interactive’sProject 007, which could flourish in a landscape with fewer stealth games than there were ten years ago.
We absolutely feel like 20 plus years of training for the agent fantasy, creating an agent that travels the world and globetrotting whatnot, has given us some know-how on that. But obviously James Bond is a different IP
Naturally,Hollywood’s ongoing search for the next cinematic James Bondcame up in Abrak’s interview as well. He said that despite the film franchise being on hold while it finds its next leading star, he believes the IP is still as popular as ever. Getting away from any of the franchise’s real-world likenesses and opting for an all-new, younger Bond could prove to be the right move as the Hollywood film franchise sorts itself out. As for IO’sProject Dragon, there haven’t been any recent updates from IO or Xbox, making it seem likeProject 007could be ready to go first.
Abrak didn’t divulge any info regarding when IO is planningProject 007’s big reveal. Though, withHitman 3quickly approaching its fourth anniversary, it seems about time for IO to make a move with a reveal, perhaps at some point next year. Fans should keep an eye on IO Interactive’s social media for any updates or announcements to come.
