007 First Light Sequel Sounds Like A Matter Of When, Not If

The success of 007 First Light has solidified its place in the gaming world, and with Amazon now owning the James Bond franchise, fans are eager to know what's next. Amazon Game Studios boss Jeff Gattis recently addressed the potential for a sequel, stating that it's more a matter of when than if. His comments come after earlier remarks suggested that Amazon might be involved in the development of a follow-up.

Speaking to IGN, Gattis clarified that he never explicitly said Amazon Game Studios would be responsible for publishing the next 007 game. Earlier in June, he mentioned that a potential sequel could be handled by MGM or Amazon Game Studios, but he emphasized that this didn't mean IO Interactive wouldn't be involved. He noted that some people had taken his comments out of context, assuming Amazon would be the publisher.

"IO has been great. They've been great partners. In fact, I was over there visiting them in Copenhagen a couple of months ago. The game's doing great. Let's let the game breathe and have its day," Gattis said.

The game's critical and commercial success has sparked excitement among fans, many of whom hope to see IO Interactive return as the developer for a sequel. While Gattis didn't confirm IO's involvement, he did suggest that a sequel should be made if the market demands it. "Trust that we're going to be smart about this," he added. "I mean, it's market appetite. As long as we feel there's a desire for players to have the game, it’s safe to say it's going to be made."

IO CEO Hakan Abrak recently revealed that 007 First Light has sold 3 million copies and should be profitable. If IO Interactive gets to make a sequel, Abrak expects the costs to come down significantly. He noted that 2016’s Hitman cost $78 million, while its sequel cost $48 million and was made two years later. The third installment was developed in 20 months and cost $19 million.

"Ambition is not necessarily that it’s more expensive. Ambition is, the platform you build, how do you keep giving amazing experiences from that and how do you iterate on a sequel from that in a smart way, where it’s retroactively maybe lifting the first one as well, like we did with World of Assassination? Some of this approach to concept and ambition, one could think could be applied to Bond as well," Abrak said.

Expanding the 007 First Light Experience

In other news, 007 First Light is set to expand further this year. A Switch 2 edition will be released this summer, along with lots of new content. This expansion shows the game's continued relevance and the potential for future growth, whether through additional content or a full sequel. Fans are undoubtedly keeping a close eye on any future announcements from Amazon Game Studios and IO Interactive.