IO Interactive’s CEO has spoken openly about the studio’s future for the first time: after 007: First Light, a sequel could happen, but the team is also making serious progress on an online fantasy RPG. Hitman is not disappearing either, but the Danish studio is currently splitting its strength across three different universes.

With 007: First Light set to launch on May 27, IO Interactive is going through a particularly exciting period. The Danish studio is currently working across three distinct universes at the same time, and each of them could be expanded with new games. Hakan Abrak, CEO of the studio, spoke candidly about IO Interactive’s future plans in an interview with The Game Business. Alongside Hitman and James Bond, he also offered an update on the mysterious fantasy RPG the team has been developing for years.

The Three Universes Of IO Interactive: Hitman, James Bond, And A Fantasy RPG

Regarding a possible sequel to 007: First Light, Abrak neither shut the door completely nor clearly confirmed that a second installment is already planned. The creator of Hitman is essentially leaving that decision up to the public. “We’re very grateful to be in this position given what we hear every day in this industry. We’re fortunate to be able to choose what we want to do. So, if this goes really well and becomes something loved by the community, why not?” he said.

If a new 007 game were to be made, Amazon MGM would also need to give its approval, since it has owned the license since 2022. According to Abrak, the relationship is strong, but both sides need to see how the public responds to the character and the game itself before deciding what comes next. “We have a great relationship. We all want to see how this works out. It’s not just the Amazon MGM side, it’s also the IO Interactive side. Will our character be well-received? Will there be a community that wants him and wants to see more?” he asked.

The other major project Abrak mentioned is Project Fantasy, the online fantasy RPG that IO Interactive announced in 2023 and about which almost nothing new has been said since. The studio head still did not reveal concrete details, but he did say the project is “very, very far along.” That is especially interesting because, after the cold, systemic assassination sandbox of Hitman and the cinematic spy-action world of James Bond, an online fantasy RPG represents completely different territory for the studio.

According to Abrak, the fantasy project is making significant progress, while 007: First Light is also a very different kind of game from Hitman. “We’re making significant progress with that fantasy project. Bond is a very different game from Hitman. Establishing that core gameplay and fundamental platform for a completely new system and game is a challenging endeavor. We opted to tackle two of these projects simultaneously,” the head of IO Interactive said.

Hitman fans do not need to give up on the series either. After Bond and the fantasy RPG, Abrak is already hinting at a return to Agent 47. “We’re eager to dive back into Hitman. There hasn’t been an opportunity to develop systems from scratch, but rest assured we’re excited to get back into creating and innovating Hitman for all of you,” he concluded. Based on that, IO Interactive’s long-term plan is not built around a single big bet: the studio is trying to establish its own James Bond era, prepare an entirely new fantasy world, and later return to the franchise that made it famous.

Source: 3DJuegos