IO Interactive, the studio behind the acclaimed Hitman franchise, has clarified once again that its upcoming James Bond game, 007: First Light, is not a simple re-skin of its stealth series. The developer emphasized that while familiar mechanics are present, the project has been built from the ground up to deliver a distinct Bond experience, complete with features never seen in Hitman.

The clarification comes after the September State of Play showcase, where gameplay footage revealed elements reminiscent of Hitman’s “World of Assassination” trilogy. Senior licensing producer Theuns Smit told GamesRadar+ that the resemblance is natural, given the studio’s pedigree but stressed that First Light prioritizes “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,” Smit said.

Fresh Talent and Vehicle Gameplay

To achieve this, IO has expanded its team since the project’s announcement in 2020, recruiting specialists with “fresh eyes” and new expertise. Notably, developers with driving mechanics backgrounds were brought on to craft Bond’s signature car sequences — a major departure from Hitman, which has never featured drivable vehicles.

Franchise art director Rasmus Poulsen called the addition of vehicle gameplay “a huge challenge” and a “new adventure” for the studio. He explained that balancing the excitement, credibility, and accessibility of car sequences required dedicated talent and a meticulous approach.

“It was absolutely a huge challenge, and also a challenge we didn’t take on lightly… I feel we have landed in an amazing space,” Poulsen told GamesRadar.

Building a Bond Legacy

The decision to push beyond IO’s stealth sandbox formula reflects the studio’s ambition to create a defining James Bond title. While First Light retains stealth, disguises, and social infiltration mechanics, it adds cinematic set pieces, refined weapon handling, and a stronger narrative focus to align with the Bond universe.

For fans who feared the game might simply be Hitman with a tuxedo, IO Interactive insists the design philosophy is broader. The project, internally dubbed “Project 007” at its reveal, aims to honor the Bond legacy while innovating on what players expect from licensed espionage games.

Release Plans

007: First Light is scheduled to launch worldwide on March 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. With licensed games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge enjoying commercial success, IO’s Bond debut is positioned as one of the most anticipated releases of 2026.

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