007 First Light: Hitman Dev's Secret Weapon for Bond Game!

Eish! You won't believe how the Hitman developers, IO Interactive, landed the James Bond game rights! Turns out, Agent 47 had a little help from a very familiar face – Daniel Craig's!

Hitman with the Golden Gun? More Like Hitman with a Bond!

IO Interactive, the brains behind the stealthy Hitman series, is bringing us 007 First Light, an action-adventure game. But how did they convince MGM and Eon to hand over the Bond video game rights? By putting Daniel Craig's head on Agent 47's body, of course!

IOI CEO Hakan Abrak revealed that they modelled Daniel Craig's head and slapped it onto Agent 47's torso for a demo. Imagine that! They then dropped this Bond-ified Agent 47 into the World of Assassination, specifically the Sapienza level with the virus in the caves. Apparently, it made quite the impression.

Why Sapienza?

The sun-soaked streets of Sapienza, with its Italian beach vibes, are exactly where you'd picture Bond chilling. But in Hitman's world, it's also full of deadly opportunities. IO Interactive wanted to show the license holders that they understood the Bond fantasy – not just the shooting and cutscenes, but also the social spaces where Bond uses his charm and wit.

Abrak explained that they're aiming for a 360-degree experience, where you can explore Bond's social skills and figure out different ways to overcome obstacles. How would a charming Bond fare in a Hitman game? We're about to find out!

State of Play Deep Dive: 007 First Light Gameplay

Mark your calendars for September 3rd! State of Play will be showcasing over 30 minutes of 007 First Light gameplay, giving us a proper look at Bond's first mission as an MI6 recruit. Expect high-speed car chases, stealth sequences, and, of course, shootouts. The developers will also be sharing insights into the game's intense espionage gameplay.

Meet the New Bond... and His Crew

The new James Bond has been revealed as Irish actor Patrick Gibson! He'll be playing a younger Bond on his first official mission. Priyanga Burford will be M, Kiera Lester is Moneypenny, and Alastair Mackenzie takes on the role of Q. The game is set to launch on March 27, 2026, with a special edition featuring the legendary Golden Gun.

So, are you excited to see Bond back on consoles? I am!