Amazon Gaming CEO Jeff Gattis believes IO Interactive remains the studio best suited to create a potential sequel. However, Amazon has not yet decided who would develop or publish James Bond’s next video game adventure.

This year, we finally got to play 007 First Light, which represents a major milestone in IO Interactive’s history. For the first time in a decade, the studio set the Hitman franchise aside to tell the origin story of a younger James Bond after more than six years of development. The project has been successful by virtually every measure, but it has also left one major question unanswered: will there be a sequel? Amid the dispute surrounding the licensing rights, which are held by Amazon Games, the American company has walked back its previous position and now says it has not decided who will create the famous cinematic secret agent’s next adventure.

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Amazon Gaming CEO Jeff Gattis clarified that his comments from last month had been misinterpreted and that no decision has been made regarding who would publish or develop a sequel to 007 First Light. “We haven’t confirmed anything about who will publish or develop the next Bond sequel. We haven’t even discussed it yet. The game is fantastic, and I think it’s realistic to expect a sequel”, he explained.

Gattis also acknowledged that the game’s positive reception means it would make sense for IO Interactive to remain in charge of developing the franchise. “Given its success, it would probably be the most sensible thing for IOI to develop it”, he stated. His words directly contradict his own comments from June, when he suggested that because Amazon owns the video game rights through MGM, future installments could be handed over to Amazon Games. That possibility was not well received by players.

The head of Amazon Gaming also stressed that the company does not intend to centralize all of its projects under its internal studios. Although he confirmed that Amazon owns the video game rights, he said the priority would be “doing what’s right for the game”. His comments suggest that keeping IO Interactive as the developer could be the most beneficial option for the franchise, while Amazon would presumably take responsibility for publishing.

Amazon Has Not Ruled Out Acquiring IO Interactive in the Future

The franchise’s long-term future nevertheless remains uncertain. When Gattis was asked whether Amazon might eventually acquire IO Interactive, he replied that “anything is possible”, although he added that there are currently “no talks” concerning a potential acquisition. For now, the company’s message is clear: James Bond’s future in video games has yet to be decided.

Source: 3DJuegos