Hitman Devs Unveil "Young Bond" Trilogy

IO Interactive Unveils Project 007: A Young Bond Trilogy in the Making

IO Interactive, renowned for the Hitman series, is developing Project 007, a new James Bond game promising a fresh perspective on the iconic spy. This isn't just a single title; the studio's CEO, Hakan Abrak, envisions a trilogy, introducing a younger Bond to a new generation of players.

A Fresh Take on 007: Origin Story and a Trilogy

Since its 2020 announcement, Project 007 has generated considerable excitement. Abrak recently confirmed to IGN that development is progressing smoothly and will focus on a previously unseen chapter of Bond's life – his journey to becoming 007. This original story will be entirely separate from any film portrayals of the character.

"It's an original story," Abrak stated, "extremely exciting...to create a young Bond for gamers; a Bond that gamers can call their own and grow with." He emphasized the studio's two-decade-long preparation, leveraging its Hitman expertise in creating immersive stealth experiences.

This marks IO Interactive's first foray into an external intellectual property (IP), presenting unique challenges. Abrak acknowledged the significance of the Bond IP, aiming to create a lasting impact on the gaming world. He envisions a "universe for gamers to own for many years," distinct from the films. The trilogy concept mirrors the success of the Hitman series. "It's not a gamification of a movie," Abrak clarified, "it's a completely original story, hopefully for a big trilogy."

Project 007: What We Know So Far

The Story: An Original Bond Narrative

While details remain scarce, the official website confirms a completely original Bond story charting his rise to 00 status. The game will be unconnected to any film actors, with Abrak hinting to Edge Magazine in 2023 that the tone will be closer to Daniel Craig's Bond than Roger Moore's.

Gameplay: Spycraft Fantasy

Gameplay remains largely under wraps, but Abrak's comments suggest a more structured experience compared to Hitman's open-ended design. He described it as "the ultimate spycraft fantasy," hinting at gadgets and a departure from Agent 47's lethal objectives. Job listings from IO Interactive suggest a third-person perspective and a focus on "sandbox storytelling" and advanced AI, potentially hinting at dynamic mission approaches.

Release Date: Still Under Wraps

A release date is yet to be announced, but Abrak expressed his enthusiasm, promising more information soon. The anticipation is high for this ambitious project.