IO Interactive Eyes James Bond as Sole External IP for Collaboration

According to IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak, the James Bond franchise is the only external intellectual property the developer is willing to work on, citing its compatibility with their experience on the Hitman series. Abrak noted that after 25 years of developing Hitman, working on James Bond 'made sense' as it aligns with their expertise in the agent fantasy genre. He confirmed that Hitman remains their flagship game and a long-standing passion project. Additionally, Abrak announced that another Hitman installment is in the works, following the launch of the Stone & Knight co-op mode. He also shared updates on Hitman: World of Assassination, revealing that it has attracted over 85 million players and sold more than 25 million copies, with over a million players engaging with the game every month. The series has seen a 22% growth in audience over the last 11 months, with IO Interactive's James Bond title, 007: First Light, set to release on March 27, 2026.