IO Interactive has finally pulled back the curtain on their highly anticipated game, Project 007! Dive into the details of this exciting new title, centered around the legendary spy, James Bond.

A Younger James Bond Takes Center Stage in Project 007

IO Interactive Aims for Project 007 to Begin a Trilogy

The masterminds behind the critically acclaimed Hitman series, IO Interactive, are now turning their focus to one of the most iconic characters in cinematic history—James Bond. Their upcoming game, currently known as Project 007, is set to be more than just a standalone adventure. In a recent interview, IO Interactive’s CEO Hakan Abrak expressed his vision for Project 007 to be the start of an exciting new trilogy, revitalizing Bond's universe for a new generation of gamers.

Since the announcement of Project 007 on November 19, 2020, there has been a growing buzz about how the studio, renowned for its stealth and espionage mechanics in Hitman, will bring these elements to a Bond game. In an interview with IGN on October 16, Abrak teased that the game's development is going "amazingly well" and will introduce players to a younger version of Bond—one before he earned his iconic double-O status.

"What’s exciting about that project is that we actually got to do an original story," Abrak shared with IGN. "It’s extremely exciting with all the tradition and all the history there is… to work on this together with the family of creating a young Bond for gamers; a Bond that the gamers can call their own and grow with."

Abrak emphasized that IO Interactive has been gearing up for this project for over two decades. Known for crafting immersive, stealth-driven experiences with Hitman, the studio aims to leverage these strengths in Project 007.

However, tackling James Bond presents a unique challenge. As Abrak noted, this is the first time IO is working with an external intellectual property (IP) rather than something created in-house. "James Bond is a different IP. It’s a huge IP. It’s not our IP… I just hope that we’ll do a thing that will define James Bond in gaming for years to come," Abrak said, adding that the goal is to create a "universe for gamers to own for many years to come that we can grow with that next to the Bond on the movies."

Abrak's ambitions for the series extend beyond a single game. He envisions Project 007 as the foundation of a trilogy. "It’s not a gamification of a movie," said Abrak. "It’s completely beginning and becoming a story, hopefully for a big trilogy out there in the future." This vision echoes the success of IO Interactive’s Hitman series, which has seen Agent 47 embark on deadly missions across three critically acclaimed installments.

Everything We Know About Project 007

Project 007 Story

While the full story of Project 007 remains shrouded in mystery, some intriguing details have emerged over time. According to the game’s official website, it will feature "a wholly original Bond story," where "players will step into the shoes of the world’s favorite Secret Agent to earn their OO status in the very first James Bond origin story."

It has been confirmed in an interview with IGN that the game will have no connection with any of the actors who have portrayed Bond in the films. Speaking to Edge Magazine in 2023, Abrak mentioned that this version of James Bond will have "a tone closer to Daniel Craig than Roger Moore." Project 007 will showcase a much younger James Bond, during his early days as a secret agent—before he became the suave, skilled spy we know today.

Project 007 Gameplay

While concrete details about Project 007’s gameplay are still scarce, Abrak shared with Edge Magazine in 2023 that "The few other breadcrumbs we’re able to pick up in the office suggest… a more scripted experience than Hitman’s freeform jaunts," Abrak revealed. "It’s been pitched as ‘the ultimate spycraft fantasy,’ which suggests gadgets—and perhaps a step away from the murderous objectives of Agent 47."

The game is likely to offer a third-person action experience, as hinted by job listings from IO Interactive. According to PlayStation Universe, in July 2021, listings emphasized a focus on "sandbox storytelling" and "cutting-edge AI," suggesting that players might enjoy a dynamic, open-ended approach to missions similar to the Hitman series.

Project 007 Release Date

While an exact release date for Project 007 remains elusive, the anticipation is palpable, especially with IO Interactive teasing that the game's development is progressing well. Abrak couldn't contain his excitement when he told IGN, "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."