Hitman developer IO Interactive developed, published, and funded the well-received and top-selling James Bond game 007: First Light, but changes could be afoot for a potential sequel.
IO announced Project 007, a working title for what would become First Light, back in November 2020. At the time, Amazon was not involved in the new game, but the retail and entertainment giant bought MGM in 2021.
Due to this timeline of events, Amazon Games "didn't have the full rights" to First Light, Amazon Games boss Jeff Gattis told Polygon. However, any possible sequels will be "done by MGM, and theoretically, by Amazon Game Studios," he said.
As for when IO reached its deal for a James Bond game, IO CEO Hakan Abrak said in a 2025 interview with GI.biz that his studio had been working on the project for nearly six years already, so that would go back to 2019.
IO has said it has plans for a trilogy of James Bond games, and First Light wraps up its campaign with a tease for the next story.
Given the positive critical reception to First Light, fans would no doubt want to see IO come back for a sequel. What Gattis is saying does not rule that out, only that Amazon will take a bigger role in any future releases. This only makes sense given Amazon now owns the rights to the franchise and dictates where it goes and who works on it. That. being said, Gattis' comments are spooking fans right now due in part to Amazon's mixed track record in the development space.
Gattis said he sees a "continued integration" of movies and video games, saying it's a "real opportunity" for Amazon to make both video content and games to help with synergy. Beyond Bond, Gattis cited the Tomb Raider franchise as an example, pointing to the upcoming Tomb Raider TV show and the new game, Tomb Raider: Catalyst--these will both be published by Amazon. Crystal Dynamics is developing the new Tomb Raider game, and Embracer owns the IP.
First Light was reportedly the most expensive entertainment product ever developed in Denmark, which is where IO is based. The budget was reportedly $200 million, but there is no confirmation of that figure. In any event, Abrak previously said IO funded First Light entirely itself due in part to the smashing success of Hitman: World of Assassination and all the money it brought in.
"James Bond is fully funded by us. We are completely independent," he said.
While Amazon did not publish First Light, the company conducted efforts to promote it, including with front-page takeover ads on Amazon's mobile app.
Beyond a possible First Light sequel, IO is confirmed to be working on a multiplayer fantasy game that is funded in part by mysterious and unannounced partners. Additionally, IO has pledged to return to the Hitman series one day.
