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Metro 2039IO Interactive
IO Interactive, the independent Copenhagen studio behind Hitman, made and self-published 007 First Light on its own Glacier engine, with Amazon MGM Studios as its Bond partner.
007 First Light was made by IO Interactive (IOI), the Danish studio behind Hitman, founded in Copenhagen in 1998 and independent since it left Square Enix in 2017 (IO Interactive). IOI developed and self-published the game on Glacier, its in-house engine, and every announcement since launch names "IO Interactive and Amazon MGM Studios" together (IO Interactive). The project began as Project 007, announced on Nov 19, 2020 with MGM, EON Productions and Delphi (IO Interactive). Its CEO is Hakan Abrak.
Quick facts
| Founded | 1998, Copenhagen |
| Studios | Copenhagen, Malmö (2019), Barcelona (2021), Istanbul (2023), Brighton (2023) |
| Independent since | 2017, from Square Enix |
| CEO | Hakan Abrak |
| Engine | Glacier, used since 2000 |
| Best-known series | Hitman |
| Project 007 announced | Nov 19, 2020 |
| 007 First Light released | May 27, 2026 |
| Next game | Project Fantasy, a new IP in development |
Sources: IO Interactive: About, read Nov 4, 2026; Announcing Project 007, Nov 19, 2020.
Who made 007 First Light?
IO Interactive made it in-house, and it is IOI's own release: Steam lists "IO Interactive A/S" as both developer and publisher (Steam). The 2020 announcement put active development in the Copenhagen and Malmö studios (IO Interactive). Metacritic also lists Delphi Interactive as a developer (Metacritic). The license partners were MGM, EON Productions and Delphi in 2020; since launch the game's press releases are joint announcements with Amazon MGM Studios and carry no EON boilerplate (IO Interactive).
Named leads include franchise art director Rasmus Poulsen (TheSixthAxis), narrative director Martin Emborg (GosuGamers) and Missions and Audio Director Dominic Vega (IO Interactive).
From Project 007 to 007 First Light
IOI announced "Project 007" on Nov 19, 2020 as an original Bond origin story in which players "earn their 00 status", calling it "the most ambitious game in the history of our studio" (IO Interactive). Abrak's line that day: "once in a while, the stars do align in our industry." The game was named and dated at a Sep 3, 2025 State of Play for Mar 27, 2026 (TheSixthAxis), moved on Dec 23, 2025 to May 27, 2026 in a statement IOI called "our most ambitious project to date" (Game Informer), and came out on that day on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The Switch 2 version is due Mar 18, 2027 (IO Interactive). The full history is on Release Date and Times and Nintendo Switch 2 Version.
How did 007 First Light do for IOI?
It is IOI's fastest-selling launch: more than 1.5 million copies in its first 24 hours, ahead of the biggest Hitman games over the same period (Shacknews). IOI reported more than 2.7 million in a week (IO Interactive) and 4 million in three months, on Aug 20, 2026 (IO Interactive). Critics rate it highly: an OpenCritic Top Critic Average of 87 as of Nov 4, 2026. See Sales and Players and Reviews.
Whether IOI makes the next Bond game is open. Amazon Games' Jeff Gattis said in July 2026 that nothing had been confirmed about who would develop a sequel, adding: "I think you probably want IOI developing it" (PlayStation Universe). See Sequel.
IOI's games
IOI lists its games on its own site (IO Interactive); Metacritic gives the Hitman dates (Metacritic).
| Year | Game |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Hitman: Codename 47 |
| 2002 | Hitman 2: Silent Assassin |
| 2003 | Freedom Fighters |
| 2004 | Hitman: Contracts |
| 2006 | Hitman: Blood Money |
| 2007 | Kane & Lynch: Dead Men |
| 2009 | Mini Ninjas |
| 2010 | Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days |
| 2012 | Hitman: Absolution |
| 2016 | Hitman (the reboot, Mar 11, 2016) |
| 2018 | Hitman 2 |
| 2021 | Hitman 3 (Jan 20, 2021) |
| 2023 | Hitman: World of Assassination (Jan 26, 2023, still updated) |
| 2026 | 007 First Light (May 27, 2026) |
| In development | Project Fantasy, a new IP |
Sources: IO Interactive: About; Metacritic: Hitman; Metacritic: Hitman 3; Metacritic: Hitman: World of Assassination; all read Nov 4, 2026.
For how 007 First Light compares with the Hitman games, see 007 First Light vs Hitman.
What is the Glacier engine?
Glacier is IOI's own engine, built because no engine on the market met its needs, and every IOI game since Hitman: Codename 47 in 2000 runs on it (IO Interactive). IOI's engine page lists real-time editing across platforms and an entity-based asset pipeline, with ray tracing, fully dynamic global illumination and new animation technology in development (IO Interactive). In 007 First Light the PC version added full path tracing on Sep 15, 2026, made with NVIDIA (IO Interactive); see PC Performance and Path Tracing.
Frequently asked questions
Who made 007 First Light? IO Interactive, the Copenhagen studio behind Hitman, developed and self-published 007 First Light, working with Amazon MGM Studios.
What engine does 007 First Light use? 007 First Light runs on Glacier, IO Interactive's in-house engine, which has powered every IOI game since Hitman: Codename 47 in 2000.
What was Project 007? Project 007 was the working title of 007 First Light, announced by IO Interactive on Nov 19, 2020 as an original James Bond origin story.
Is IO Interactive owned by Square Enix? No. IO Interactive, maker of 007 First Light, has been independent of Square Enix since 2017.
Who is the CEO of IO Interactive? Hakan Abrak is the CEO of IO Interactive, the studio behind 007 First Light and Hitman.
What is IO Interactive making next? Besides updates to 007 First Light, IO Interactive is developing a new IP codenamed Project Fantasy; no Bond sequel has been announced as of Nov 4, 2026.
Sources
- About, IO Interactive, official site
- Glacier, IO Interactive, official site
- Announcing Project 007, IO Interactive, Nov 19, 2020
- 007 First Light Free DLC Out Now, IO Interactive, Oct 1, 2026
- 007 First Light, Steam
- 007 First Light, Metacritic
- 007: First Light gets a March 2026 release date, TheSixthAxis (Stefan L), Sep 3, 2025
- 007 First Light Release Date Delayed To May 2026, Game Informer (Charles Harte), Dec 23, 2025
- 007 First Light Switch 2 Date Confirmed, IO Interactive, Oct 14, 2026
- 007 First Light becomes IOI's fastest-selling game with 1.5 million in one day, Shacknews (Donovan Erskine), May 29, 2026
- 007 First Light Year One Content Roadmap Revealed, IO Interactive, Jun 5, 2026
- 007 First Light reaches 4 million copies sold, IO Interactive, Aug 20, 2026
- 007 First Light, OpenCritic
- Amazon Game Studios Boss Clarifies That No Decision Has Been Made On Possible 007 First Light Sequel, PlayStation Universe (Michael Harradence), Jul 24, 2026
- 007 First Light developer reveals Lenny Kravitz was closely involved in creating his character Bawma, GosuGamers (Anna Bernardo), about May 2026
- Title sequence reveal and Beyond the Light 4 - Music, IO Interactive, Apr 17, 2026
- Path Tracing now available for 007 First Light, IO Interactive, Sep 15, 2026
- Hitman: Codename 47, Metacritic
- Hitman, Metacritic
- Hitman 3, Metacritic
- Hitman: World of Assassination, Metacritic
- 007 First Light In-Depth: The Big Digital Foundry Tech Review, Digital Foundry, May 28, 2026 (video)
- Beyond the Light Episode 2 - Cast & Character Dev Diary, 007 First Light, Mar 4, 2026 (video)
Moments
007 First Light In-Depth: The Big Digital Foundry Tech Review
Digital Foundry
Beyond the Light Episode 2 - Cast & Character Dev Diary
007 First Light
Related
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James Bond Games in OrderThe major James Bond games run from GoldenEye 007 (1997) through the EA and Activision years to 007 Legends (2012), then a 14-year gap until IO Interactive's 007 First Light on May 27, 2026.
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Cast and CharactersPatrick Gibson plays a 26-year-old James Bond in 007 First Light, with Lennie James as his mentor John Greenway, Priyanga Burford as M, Alastair Mackenzie as Q, Kiera Lester as Moneypenny, Gemma Chan as Selina Tan and Lenny Kravitz as the Pirate King Bawma.
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John GreenwayJohn Greenway is James Bond's mentor in 007 First Light, a former 00 agent who runs the revived 00 program's training, played by Lennie James.
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M, Q and MoneypennyIn 007 First Light, Priyanga Burford plays M, the head of MI6 who recruits Bond, Alastair Mackenzie plays Q, who runs the Q-Lab and its gadgets, and Kiera Lester plays Eve Moneypenny, M's right hand.
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Music and Theme Song007 First Light's theme song is "First Light", sung by Lana Del Rey and written by Del Rey with David Arnold, released Apr 16, 2026; the game's score is by the composer duo The Flight.
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Nicholas WebbSpoiler warning. Sir Nicholas Webb, CEO of Webb Industries and creator of MI6's AI THEIA, is the real villain of 007 First Light with his son Damien; Anthony Howell and Bart Edwards play them.
See also
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Release Date and Times007 First Light came out worldwide on May 27, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, with 24-hour early access for digital pre-orders from May 26. The Nintendo Switch 2 version comes on Mar 18, 2027.
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Nintendo Switch 2 Version007 First Light comes to Nintendo Switch 2 on Mar 18, 2027, IO Interactive announced on Oct 14, 2026, after four changes of date. It is sold as a $69.99 Deluxe Edition with a GoldenEye Suit, and pre-orders are open.
- Sales and Players007 First Light sold 4 million copies in its first three months, IO Interactive said on Aug 20, 2026, after 1.5 million in its first 24 hours, the studio's fastest-selling launch. It has also passed 7 million wishlists.
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Reviews007 First Light has an OpenCritic Top Critic Average of 87 with 97% of critics recommending it, and Metacritic scores of 87 on PS5, 88 on Xbox Series X and 84 on PC, as of Nov 4, 2026. IGN gave it 9/10 and GameSpot 8/10.
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SequelNo 007 First Light sequel has been announced as of Nov 4, 2026. IOI's Hakan Abrak said before launch that one could follow if players love it, and Amazon Games' Jeff Gattis said in June and July 2026 that a sequel "should be made" but that nothing about who would make it is decided.
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007 First Light vs Hitman007 First Light plays like a more guided, cinematic Hitman: IO Interactive's Glacier engine, social stealth and several routes to each goal carry over, but the levels are more linear, the hero is a named Bond, and set pieces and chases replace Hitman's open sandboxes.