007's Bold Betrayal?! Hitman's Legacy Redefined in First Light!

How 007 First Light Learns From And Moves Beyond Hitman

007's Bold Betrayal?! Hitman's Legacy Redefined in...

For a quarter of a century, IO Interactive has been practically synonymous with the *Hitman* franchise. The games cast players as Agent 47, a seriously effective operative who jets around the world eliminating targets with surgical precision. The real art? Making it look like an accident. The *World of Assassination* trilogy, in particular, really shot IO Interactive to new heights, delivering some of the most immersive and rewarding sandbox stealth experiences in gaming, period.

Now, while they're distinct in their gameplay, it's clear that many of the skills learned and honed during *Hitman*'s development are being directly transferred to the studio's upcoming *007 First Light*. IO Interactive CEO and game director Hakan Abrak freely admits that *Hitman* has shaped the studio's core identity. "It’s defined many things for us throughout the years, from the technology we’ve been doing to the communities we’ve built," Abrak said. "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.” It's hard to argue with that. They *know* the genre.

That very DNA, that experience, has heavily influenced the direction of *007 First Light*, especially when it comes to the game's more open-ended sequences. "Whenever we can, we try to open it up; in the gameplay trailer, you have to infiltrate this chateau," explained narrative and cinematic director Martin Emborg. "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... You can go stealthy or you can go combat, or anything in between. It's actually up to you, and all these routes or play-style choices should all be viable and fun to use." It sounds promising – choice is always good in a spy thriller, right?

However, despite *Hitman*'s obvious and pervasive influence on the studio, *007 First Light* is aiming for a distinct look, flow, and feel, and not just a reskin. "Obviously, we've had a lot of learnings from our *Hitman* titles, especially because we knew we also wanted to have some kind of stealth in this game," said gameplay director Andreas Krogh. "It was very obvious for us to just say, 'Okay, we have a stealth loop in *Hitman*, and a way of approaching that with environment interactions and the moment-to-moment, second-to-second gameplay that we like and saw users like.' It was obvious for us to bring that to the table. But on the other hand, we knew we had a new game here, with a new protagonist that we knew we had to do some of the areas we weren't good at in *Hitman*." I think that's key; recognizing where *Hitman* could be improved and then addressing those weaknesses. That's smart development.

Unlike the more linear structure of *Hitman*, which blends set-piece action with sandbox creativity, *007 First Light* looks set to require players to embrace all facets of Bond's persona. I mean, think about it: it needs driving, combat, and the series' signature charm. In *Hitman*, combat is often, let's be honest, a last resort. Here's hoping IO can deliver on the promise of a more well-rounded Bond experience.