IO Interactive is taking its first big swing outside the Hitman universe with 007 First Light, a brand-new James Bond origin story.
The game, first revealed during PlayStation’s recent State of Play, is set to launch in 2026 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
But beyond the stylish teaser trailer, there’s a major development behind the scenes: 007 First Light will be a single-player live-service game, following the same post-launch update model as Hitman: World of Assassination.
A Bond Game with a Hitman Twist (But Not Too Much)
IO Interactive is no stranger to turning single-player games into long-term experiences. Since leaving Square Enix in 2017, the studio has unified its Hitman trilogy under the World of Assassination banner, transforming it into a platform that continues to evolve over time with new missions and seasonal content.
Now, IOI wants to replicate that model with James Bond.
“You could expect that we’ll be applying some of our learnings from World of Assassination to Bond,” said IOI CEO Hakan Abrak in an interview with The Game Business.
He clarified, though, that 007 First Light won’t be Hitman in disguise. While both franchises focus on espionage and stealth, Bond’s world leans more into action, cinematic storytelling, and kinetic gameplay—a contrast to Agent 47’s surgical precision and sandbox-style missions.
Content Updates After Launch—But a Complete Game on Day One
Despite the live-service approach, Abrak reassured fans that 007 First Light will ship as a full, complete experience at launch.
“The first objective with 007 First Light is to come out with the best possible, most impactful journey for gamers.”
Post-launch content will include new missions and challenges rolled out over time, expanding Bond’s world while keeping the experience fresh—similar to how IOI kept Hitman alive with Escalation contracts, Elusive Targets, and bonus levels.
Developed in Partnership with Amazon MGM—but IOI Has Creative Control
Though 007 First Light is being made in collaboration with Amazon MGM, Abrak emphasized that the team is in sync with the Bond IP holders. That means no creative tug-of-war—just a shared vision for who Bond is and how his story should be told.
A Do-Over on the Nintendo Switch
In a surprise twist, IOI confirmed that 007 First Light will launch on the Nintendo Switch 2—a bit of a redemption arc after the underwhelming cloud version of Hitman on the original Switch.
“We have unfinished business with the platform,” Abrak said, noting that Bond’s missions could be a great fit for portable play.
No word yet on Steam Deck support, but the focus on portability suggests it’s at least being considered.
A Big Swing for IOI—and a Test for Single-Player Live Service
With 007 First Light, IO Interactive is not only diving into one of the most iconic IPs in pop culture, but also doubling down on a live-service model for single-player games—something still relatively rare in the AAA space.
It’s a bold move, but if the Hitman formula taught us anything, it’s that IOI knows how to keep solo experiences engaging long after the credits roll. If Bond’s origin story lands well, 007 First Light could be a blueprint for how to do live-service right in single-player games.
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