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There’s something poetic about IO Interactive becoming the studio behind one of the biggest games of 2026.
A decade ago, they were fighting to prove themselves after Hitman: Absolution, a game that divided longtime fans by moving away from the sandbox freedom the series was known for. Today, they’ve launched 007 First Light, a James Bond game that is not only selling incredibly well, but is already being called the best Bond game since GoldenEye.
And honestly? It feels deserved.
The Absolution Era
Back in 2012, Hitman: Absolution was controversial for a reason.
Instead of massive sandbox levels filled with experimentation, the game leaned into cinematic storytelling and more linear action design. Some players appreciated the darker tone and presentation, but many felt IO had lost part of what made Hitman special.
What’s interesting now is that Absolution almost feels like a prototype for what IO eventually became.
At the time, fans rejected parts of it because it wasn’t the Hitman they wanted. But in hindsight, IO was clearly experimenting with ideas that would later fit perfectly into a James Bond game.
The Perfect Studio for Bond
Looking back now, IO Interactive almost feels inevitable for James Bond.
The Hitman series was always heavily inspired by spy thrillers anyway. Elegant assassinations, disguises, luxury locations, infiltration, gadgets, manipulation… the Bond DNA was already there.
The difference is that Bond allows IO to embrace spectacle in a way Hitman never fully could.
Car chases.
Explosions.
Large-scale action.
Cinematic dialogue.
A younger, more reckless protagonist.
And instead of fighting against those blockbuster instincts like they sometimes had to with Hitman, 007 First Light fully embraces them.
That’s why comparisons to Hitman: Absolution are actually fascinating now.
The difference is simple:
Those ideas finally found the right franchise.
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A New Future for IO Interactive
What’s most exciting is what this means going forward.
IO Interactive no longer feels like “the Hitman studio.”
They now feel like one of the few AAA developers capable of making cinematic single-player spy adventures at a time when many publishers spent years chasing live-service trends instead.
Ironically, the industry may have looped back around to exactly what players wanted all along:
Strong single-player experiences with memorable characters and cinematic presentation.
And after the success of 007 First Light, it’s hard not to wonder how many other publishers are looking at IO right now thinking:
“Maybe we should’ve invested in this kind of game too.”
-Foures
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