That’s a lot of Moneypenny
IO Interactive has announced that action-stealth game 007 First Light has sold 4 million copies since it was released in May. While no plans for a sequel have been officially announced, the critical and financial success of the James Bond game makes a follow-up a no-brainer.
The announcement comes in the midst of uncertainty over the future of James Bond video games under new IP holder Amazon. Following comments from Amazon Game Studios boss Jeff Gatis, it seemed like IO Interactive might not be on board for more Bond games. Later, Gatis clarified that while nothing is set, saying Amazon Game Studios would probably want IO Interactive to develop a sequel, “given the success of this one.”
007 First Light brings Bond back to video games in a big way. Hitman developer IO Interactive applies its talent for environmental sandboxes and immersive stealth action to the world of the most famous spy. Sprawling levels are a delight to explore as Bond, and new mechanics like a bluffing system really let players live the fantasy. The game isn’t just a rehash of what made Hitman: World of Assassination so great. Taking inspiration from cinematic blockbuster games like Uncharted, 007 First Light has its fair share of impressive set pieces that leaves players in awe. As an origin story, it offers a unique take on the characters distinct from the films, with Patrick Gibson turning in an excellent performance as Bond.
Ahead of any sequel, IO Interactive is still hard at work on continued support for 007 First Light. A Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game is currently in development, with no release window announced at this time. The developer has committed to a one-year plan of content updates, including New Game +, additional Tac Sim challenges, and a mission centered around Lenny Kravitz’s pirate lord Bawma.
