Exploring a New Era of Bond
In an exciting development for gaming enthusiasts, IO Interactive is set to unveil a fresh perspective on the iconic character of James Bond with their upcoming title, 007 First Light. Rather than serving as a straightforward origin story, this game positions Bond at an early stage in his career within MI6, allowing players to engage with a version of the character that diverges from the cinematic portrayals many have come to know.
Hakan Abrak, CEO of IO Interactive, expressed his gratitude for the creative freedom afforded to the team. “We’ve been so lucky with our partners that we were trusted to do more than a gamification of a movie,” he shared during a recent interview at Gamescom. “It’s not about making Pierce Brosnan look as good as possible with pixels, but actually creating this young man from scratch and with an original story. We wanted to take that opportunity and go all the way with creating something for the gamers that they could call their own.”
In a conversation with PC Gamer, Abrak elaborated on the distinct narrative approach, contrasting Bond with the protagonist of their previous franchise, Hitman. “If Hitman is a single-minded killer and basically the bad guy of the game, Bond is the hero,” he noted, a statement that resonates powerfully when witnessing Bond’s character in action.
During my first encounter with IO’s interpretation of a youthful Bond at Gamescom, I was pleasantly surprised. In a notable departure from the recent film portrayals, this version of Bond takes on a more nuanced role, serving as a lookout and chauffeur rather than being at the forefront of action. Moreover, he exudes a softer, more humorous demeanor that adds depth to his character.
“It’s extremely important to get the humour right for Bond,” Abrak emphasized. “Humour, in our prior games like Hitman, is also extremely important—we call it our dark humour, Danish dark humour. It’s important because we’re making a game about an assassin, and it’s pretty morbid. But it gets a bit more digestible with humour.”
As players embark on this journey with a younger Bond, Abrak believes it creates a unique opportunity for gamers to connect with the character. “I certainly hope a few people will be surprised,” he remarked. “If we can surprise some of the audience with this take, that will be a good thing. It won’t just be about a young man getting by—you’ll get to experience the sharpness and the wits and the charm and all the power moments of a Bond fantasy as you progress in the story.”
