How 007 First Light Learns From And Moves Beyond Hitman

IO Interactive is known for the Hitman franchise, where Agent 47 travels globally to eliminate targets through methods that appear accidental or remain untraceable. The World of Assassination trilogy delivered highly engaging sandbox stealth experiences. Skills developed for Hitman transferred to 007 First Light, including the studio’s focus on creating a globetrotting spy or agent fantasy. IO Interactive CEO and 007 First Light game director Hakan Abrak credits Hitman with defining the studio’s identity, technology, and community. Narrative and cinematic director Martin Emborg describes an approach of opening up gameplay whenever possible, such as infiltrating a chateau with multiple paths and offering wider choice in the Kensington level, including stealth or combat options during trespassing segments.

"“It's defined many things for us throughout the years, from the technology we've been doing to the communities we've built,” IO Interactive CEO and 007 First Light game director Hakan Abrak says. “When it comes to creating a spy or agent fantasy that travels the world - the globetrotting, contemporary world fantasy - we have spent a lot of hours traversing in that area, which, I think, has given us a certain expertise and know-how over the years.”"

"“Whenever we can, we try to open it up; in the gameplay trailer, you have to infiltrate this chateau,” narrative and cinematic director Martin Emborg says. “This is where we try to bring that IOI DNA that we have from Hitman, where you represent it as a way where there are different paths into this chateau, and then you have to go from here.”"

"“And then, we have the Kensington level, where we have several segments, especially going through the trespassing segments where combat is involved, where you have a much wider range of choice: You can go stealthy or you can go combat,”"

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