IO Interactive’s chief executive officer, Hakan Abrak, is set to lead a dedicated session on the upcoming title 007 First Light during the Game Republic New Horizons conference in 2026. In addition to his duties as CEO, Abrak also serves as the game’s director, giving him a unique perspective on both the business and creative sides of the project. During his talk, he will walk attendees through the development journey of the James Bond‑themed adventure, sharing insights into design choices, narrative direction, technical challenges, and the collaborative process that brought the iconic spy to life on screen.
First Light has already become IO Interactive’s most rapidly selling game ever, moving more than four million units within the first three months after launch. The impressive sales figures underscore the strong appetite for a well‑crafted Bond experience and have positioned the title as a flagship product for the studio.
While the original release debuted on current‑generation consoles and PC, IO Interactive has announced a planned port for the forthcoming Nintendo Switch 2, slated for release in late 2026. This move aims to reach a broader audience and capitalize on the handheld’s growing popularity among both casual and hardcore gamers. "I’m thrilled to be part of Game Republic New Horizons and to discuss 007 First Light, a project that has been a true dream for our team," Abrak said in a recent statement. "From the earliest concept sketches to the final polish, every step has been driven by our passion for the Bond legacy and our desire to deliver an experience that feels both fresh and faithful to the source material." Jamie Sefton, managing director of Game Republic, echoed the excitement, adding, "Being a massive James Bond fan, it’s an enormous honour to welcome Hakan and the IO Interactive crew to our conference.
I’m eager to hear the behind‑the‑scenes story of how such an iconic character was re‑imagined and what creative solutions the team employed to make the game stand out." Abrak will join a distinguished roster of industry veterans speaking at New Horizons. The lineup includes legendary PlayStation architect Ken Kutaragi delivering the keynote address, Rebecca Lautner, chief business officer of Landfall, and a forward‑looking panel titled "Hype‑free Assessment of AI in Games" featuring AI specialist Tommy Thompson, Creative Assembly’s Duyguy Cakmak, and Matthias Siemonsmeier of Splash Damage. The agenda also features a fireside chat in the Investor Zone with Tencent’s business development director Teddy Keefe, as well as a panel called "Beyond the Pitch: Securing (and Surviving) Angel Investment" with Nick Button‑Brown of The Game Angels, Tracy McGarrigan from Ansible, and Ian Masters of Flick Games.
In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Abrak reflected on First Light’s commercial performance, noting, "We haven’t fully recouped the investment yet because of the partnership structure and ongoing royalty obligations, but the results have already exceeded our most optimistic forecasts. By every metric, this title is shaping up to be a landmark success for IO Interactive." The future of the James Bond franchise remains a topic of active discussion between IO Interactive and Amazon, the current license holder. While the two companies are still in the early stages of negotiations, Abrak confirmed that the immediate focus remains on supporting First Light and its post‑launch content roadmap. "We’re still in ongoing conversations with Amazon about the broader direction of the Bond IP," he said.
"For now, our priority is to keep delivering fresh experiences for First Light and to explore what the next chapter might look like together." Game Republic New Horizons is scheduled to take place at Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough from October 14 to October 16, 2026. The event will serve as a hub for developers, investors, and media professionals to exchange ideas, showcase upcoming projects, and discuss industry trends.
GameIndustry.biz will act as a media partner for the conference, providing coverage and analysis throughout the three‑day summit. Attendees can expect a deep dive into the creative process behind 007 First Light, including discussions on narrative structure, character development, and the technical innovations that enable immersive espionage gameplay. Abrak will also touch on the marketing strategy that helped propel the game to record‑breaking sales, the importance of community feedback in shaping live‑service elements, and the roadmap for future expansions and platform releases. By the end of the session, participants should leave with a comprehensive understanding of how a beloved cinematic franchise can be successfully translated into an interactive medium, as well as the business considerations that underpin such an ambitious undertaking.
Overall, the New Horizons conference promises to be a pivotal moment for IO Interactive, offering a platform to celebrate the achievements of First Light while charting the course for the next wave of Bond‑related projects under the stewardship of both the studio and its licensing partner.