IO Interactive exec defends 007 First Light, says it isn't a Hitman clone
IO Interactive, known for its work on the Hitman series, is spearheading 007 First Light. After a post-PlayStation State of Play for the new James Bond game, IO Interactive firmly addressed concerns of the game bearing resemblance to the Hitman series, with few suggesting the game is a mere reskin.
In an interview with GamesRadar+, senior licensing producer Theuns Smit iterated that the game was going for an entirely original approach, stating:
“We have a very talented team back home, and our team has expanded ever since we first announced the game.
Obviously, that meant there was even more interest. We were able to bring in amazing fresh talent to bolster what we already have at the studio, and that has been a really big growth moment for us as a studio.”
IO Interactive has certainly stepped out of their comfort zone by implementing new mechanics such as drivable vehicles, which was a prominent moment in the 007 First Light State of Play gameplay sequence. Further expressing distinction from the Hitman series, Smit added:
“It comes about the game first. The experience first. If you’re looking at Hitman, it’s the way it is for a particular reason, because that’s the gameplay experience we want to give. For Bond, it’s not exactly that. It’s not a reskin of that.”
Further talking about the implementation of new mechanics, Franchise Art Director Rasmus Poulsen talked about the hurdles IO faced, which required special hires. Poulsen commented:
“We had to bring onto the team specific driving expertise, i.e., people that had experience coding, setting up, tweaking, and balancing. Because, of course, it’s a balancing act of making a vehicle feel both exciting, credible, and dangerous at the same time as being approachable and fun for a wide audience.
So absolutely, that balance is very difficult and indeed a new adventure for us, so something we took very seriously. And I’m pleased to say, I feel we have landed in an amazing space.”
007 First Light lands on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, and Nintendo Switch 2 on March 27, 2026, and is now available for pre-order.
Preorder 007 First Light - Specialist Edition on Amazon here
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