Highlights

  • Project 007, an origin story for James Bond, will test IO Interactive's stealthy gameplay mechanics.
  • The departure from Hitman may pose challenges for IO Interactive as it moves onto new projects.
  • The timing of Project 007's release may benefit from the current hiatus in the Bond film franchise.

IO Interactive, most famous for its Hitman series, has announced its next game, Project 007. But despite the IP's popularity, Project 007 may fly under the radar of potential players.

IO Interactive’s most recent release, Hitman 3, closed out its World of Assassination trilogy, but the company doesn’t seem ready to abandon stealth games quite yet. It has been announced that Project 007 will be a proper origin story for James Bond, an idea the films have never fully portrayed. If their previous games are anything to go by, Bond will be placed in many situations requiring him to sneak his way past enemies or take them out sneakily as perfect training for the world-renowned super spy. As well as the company’s history pairs with the 007 IP, though, the title might be too sneaky for its own good for the next little while.

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How IO Interactive's Latest Hitman Trilogy Could Help Influence Project 007

With Hitman's World of Assassination trilogy complete, attention turns to IO Interactive's Project 007 and how it will be influenced by Hitman.

IO Interactive’s Stealth May Not Remain in Its Gameplay

Though the company has made a name for itself among fans, IO Interactive is easy to miss until its games are released. But when its games are finally released, the shadows aren’t where they should be. The Hitman games are some of the best stealth games on the market, and yet don’t receive a bunch of hype, even at the time of release. With a high-profile IP like the Bond franchise, the company needs to make more noise when revealing updates and upon its release. Otherwise, the game risks falling into obscurity.

Leaving Hitman Behind May Be a Challenge

Agent 47 has been with IO Interactive since its first release in 2000 and has returned in each game in the Hitman franchise. While the company has indicated that the franchise isn’t over, it’s clear that 47 will be taking an extended break as IO focuses on other games. In addition to Project 007, it is also focusing efforts on an online multi-player fantasy RPG. With a full plate, IO is giving itself a lot of work to keep track of.

The departure from its flagship series also means a departure from the themes and genres it represents. The Hitman games, as well as most of IO’s other most popular games, shed light on the shady underside of the espionage and criminal world. Though Bond and 47 share sneaky similarities, James Bond is on the side of the law. IO’s interest in crime stories might be hard for it to shake when focusing on a character with such strong moral fiber.

Adapting the 007 IP correctly should be the most important part of its development process, and IO should have as much time as it needs to ensure that the transition between gameplay playstyles is fluid, even if that means it takes a while longer for Project 007 to launch.

The Timing of Release Has a Perfect Window, But the Clock is Ticking

The Bond franchise is between eras at the moment as a new actor hasn’t been cast, nor has a new movie been announced. This could be a double-edged sword for IO Interactive when it approaches the release of Project 007. Striking while there isn’t a set face for Bond or a current storyline means that IO Interactive’s Bond game comes at a good time because fans of the films are starved for content.

What’s more, with no movies bolstering the image of the franchise, players who aren’t Bond fans might not be interested in his story. While Project 007 is in good hands, its far-off release and franchise lull cause a risk that it will sneak right past potential players.