Project 007 Features a \"Young Bond\" In Hitman Devs' Planned Trilogy

IO Interactive has finally shed more light on their highly anticipated Project 007! Discover more about this exciting new James Bond title.

A Younger James Bond Takes Center Stage in Project 007

IO Interactive's Ambitious Trilogy Plan for Project 007

The creators of the acclaimed Hitman series, IO Interactive, are tackling one of cinema's most iconic figures: James Bond. Their upcoming game, Project 007, is envisioned as more than a single adventure; it's the beginning of a trilogy. IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak confirmed this ambition, aiming to revitalize the Bond universe for a new generation of gamers.

Since Project 007's November 19, 2020 announcement, speculation has mounted regarding how the stealth experts at IO Interactive would translate their expertise to a Bond game. In an October 16 interview with IGN, Abrak revealed the game's impressive progress and hinted at a unique approach: a younger James Bond, before he became 007.

"The exciting part is creating an original story," Abrak told IGN. "With such rich tradition and history... to work on this with the Bond family, creating a young Bond for gamers, a Bond gamers can call their own and grow with, is incredibly exciting."

Abrak emphasized the studio's two-decade-long preparation for this project. IO Interactive's Hitman games are renowned for their immersive, stealth-focused gameplay, a strength likely to carry over to Project 007.

However, James Bond presents a unique challenge. This marks IO Interactive's first foray into an external intellectual property (IP), unlike their in-house creations. "James Bond is a massive IP, not ours," Abrak acknowledged. "I hope we create something that defines James Bond in gaming for years to come," he added, expressing a desire to build "a universe gamers can own for years, growing alongside the Bond in the films."

Abrak's vision extends beyond a single game. He sees Project 007 as the cornerstone of a trilogy. "It's not a movie adaptation," Abrak clarified. "It's a completely original story, hopefully the start of a major trilogy." This mirrors the success of IO Interactive's Hitman trilogy, which followed Agent 47 across the globe in three critically acclaimed installments.

Everything We Know About Project 007

Project 007 Story

Project 007's narrative remains shrouded in secrecy, but key details have emerged. The official website confirms a "wholly original Bond story," where players "step into the shoes of the world’s favorite Secret Agent to earn their 00 status in the very first James Bond origin story."

Confirmed in an IGN interview, the game will feature an original story unconnected to any film portrayal of Bond. In a 2023 interview with Edge Magazine, Abrak revealed that this Bond will have "a tone closer to Daniel Craig than Roger Moore," depicting a younger Bond in his early days as a secret agent, before his transformation into the iconic spy we know.

Project 007 Gameplay

Concrete gameplay details remain scarce, but Abrak's 2023 Edge Magazine interview offered a clue: "…a more scripted experience than Hitman’s freeform jaunts," he revealed. "It’s been pitched as ‘the ultimate spycraft fantasy,’ suggesting gadgets—and perhaps a step away from the murderous objectives of Agent 47."

The game will likely be a third-person action title, suggested by IO Interactive job listings. PlayStation Universe reported in July 2021 on listings emphasizing "sandbox storytelling" and "cutting-edge AI," hinting at a dynamic, open-ended mission approach similar to Hitman.

Project 007 Release Date

A release date remains unannounced, but anticipation is high, especially with IO Interactive's positive progress reports. Abrak's enthusiasm is palpable: "I don’t have an update today, but believe me, it’s itching here as well to be talking about it soon… I know it was a little teaser, not a lot of information, but there’s a lot of cool stuff coming up. We are also very excited and when we are ready with that, we’ll be opening up."