Hitman developer IO Interactive is crafting its unique interpretation of James Bond for the forthcoming pseudo-prequel 007 First Light, while still drawing inspiration from a notably iconic era in a significant manner.
Creative director Hakan Abrak recently disclosed that the game’s portrayal of Bond and “the physicality of the combat is more akin to the Daniel Craig period,” during an interview with Edge Magazine‘s 416 issue.
Part of that resemblance stems from the nature of this being a video game – along with the Bond era being the most contemporary regarding action filmmaking – making “sliding into cover, the screen vibrating, and fluid transitions between ranged and close-quarters combat” par for the course in this 2025 third-person action title.
Nevertheless, the analogy isn’t “exactly one-to-one,” Abrak noted: “we’re aiming to make it feel unique – however, it was crucial to be in constant motion, dynamic, and acrobatic, almost reminiscent of the parkour sequences at the outset of Casino Royale.”
It’s intriguing to listen to the developers discuss how First Light resembles other Bond adaptations, given that much of the promotional strategy has emphasized its distinctions. Abrak also mentioned his satisfaction that IOI was granted the opportunity to craft their own vision of the icon, instead of adapting an existing rendition.
007 First Light developers were also quick to emphasize that their Bond wouldn’t be a “superhero” from the very start, unlike Dr. No’s perhaps overly-casual agent.
