007 First Light is the upcoming action-adventure from Danish developer IO Interactive, the studio behind the famed stealth collection Hitman. However simply how had been the James Bond online game rights secured? Nicely, it seems with a little bit assist from a sure Hitman’s physique and a really well-known face.
IOI CEO and First Light recreation director, Hakan Abrak, revealed to me at a latest studio go to that the pinnacle of the newest display screen Bond, Daniel Craig, was sculpted onto the torso of Agent 47 and dropped into the World of Assassination.
“We truly did put Daniel Craig in there”, Abrak revealed. “We simply modeled his head and put it in as a substitute of Agent 47, simply for demo functions, giving an impression of what these dwelling, respiratory areas imply in an IO recreation. And if you’re acquainted with the franchise, there’s a degree known as Sapienza with the virus within the caves beneath the compound. So we confirmed some issues off there and, yeah, it was effectively acquired.”
The sun-soaked streets of Sapienza present the precise type of beachy Italian rest spot possible Bond mendacity low in, however in Hitman’s world, it is laced with lethal alternative — a sentiment IO needed to convey on this particular demonstration to the license holders at MGM and Eon.
“It was simply for demo functions, proper?” Abrak continued. “I feel what they noticed in us and what we’re additionally conveying is our angle can be to attempt to ship a 360 expertise the place it isn’t essentially about solely taking pictures and lower scenes — there is definitely that in our recreation as effectively — nevertheless it’s additionally with the ability to discover the a part of the Bond fantasy the place he’s in social areas the place he’s utilizing not solely his fisticuffs, but additionally his charms and bluff and determining alternative ways in these social areas to beat the obstacles or get what he desires. How would a captivating Bond fare in a state of affairs like this the place he would not must essentially resort to violence?”
Sapienza has develop into one of the crucial beloved Hitman maps ever since its 2016 introduction, and you may see why it was picked by IO as the right instance of its model of social stealth gameplay. Blunt violence is, in fact, an possibility, however far more Bond-like mission tales can be found too, resembling gatecrashing a romantic rendezvous involving one of many targets and her golf coach lover — the type of state of affairs James may simply discover himself tied up in.
However First Light was at all times going to be a Bond origin story, so, whereas it was all enjoyable and video games sticking Craig’s face onto 47’s, the British actor was by no means a real choice to play IO’s 007. As a substitute, the studio has gone a lot youthful, choosing Patrick Gibson to painting its 26-year-old James.
“We have solely made unique worlds and characters earlier than, so that is our first time working on one thing else”, Abrak explains. “So it was essential for us that we may put our inventive fingerprints on this as effectively. So we weren’t involved in a gamification of a film or possibly the place it is about technical prowess solely, like pushing the pixels on Pierce Brosnan, for instance, or simply taking some bespoke scenes from a film and realizing them in gaming.”
It was very, essential for us that this was constructed from the bottom up as a recreation for players, however that basically, actually felt like a real Bond expertise. And likewise exploring an area that hasn’t been explored earlier than, the place it isn’t essentially about simply ranging from day one with this super-experienced agent that is aware of precisely from the beginning of the sport how he desires his drinks or how he is strolling round in a tuxedo. However a part of the expertise is that this younger man is studying the ropes and is being confronted with the world of espionage and changing into all through this journey. So I assumed that was very fascinating to discover.”
You’ll be able to learn in regards to the casting of IO’s new James Bond right here. You too can try how Queen Elizabeth II’s passing affected First Light’s improvement, and the IO CEO’s ideas on publishing MindsEye following its disastrous launch.
For far more on 007 First Light, make sure that to learn my in depth preview filled with gameplay and story particulars.
Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN who can primarily be discovered skulking round open world video games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing on the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Observe him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.