The interactive CEO of IO, Hakan Abrak, believes that the key to the survival of his studio in an increasingly volatile game industry is at the bottom of the pan … literally.
In a frank interview with Game activityAbrak has confirmed the next IO jump match, 007 First lightwill benefit from the Hitman model to maintain fans committed while keeping the sustainable development costs, because the studio has acquired “tons of experience now from the world of assassination, and tons of experience on how to extend a solo experience by giving the players free content.”
“I was the executive producer on (2012) Hitman Absolution, and I swore to never do more toilets,” he said. “We were simply doing everything. It was just a disposable.
“Without being too specific, Hitman 2016 … Let’s say it was a match of $ 100 million. Hitman 2 was perhaps $ 60 million. Hitman 3 was $ 20 million. And Hitman 3 was the highest metricic. It was 85, 84 and 87 metacritics,” he added. “And there were new very unique locations.”
By indicating that the studio learned that Hitman Absolution was an “unnecessary production”, Abrak now says that “completely has changed (the thought of the IO team)”.
“Build this foundation, the brick system as we call it, where we can experience, like (New Hitman Mission featuring Mads Mikkelsen) very quickly and effectively,” he added. “It was a really (important) part of creating a sustainable production AAA. I will not sit here and say that we do everything.
Although there is, according to the admission of Abrak, “a more important investment in Bond”, the director is convinced that “longevity” will be integrated into production.
“If we had to look at the continuation at a given moment, who knows? At Io, we have a very, very good way to try to be effective. It is extremely important for us.
“The first objective with 007 First Light is to go out with the best possible and the most impactful trip for players. I will certainly count the number of toilets we see …
Io Interactive James Bond game was Announced for the first time in 2020 As a 007 project. From the offer, IO said that it developed a new story of James Bond origin and a completely original work, rather than anything that has followed the events of a particular film.
It was only in the state of play of PlayStation in June 2025 that we obtained our First look suitable for 007 first light. Presented in 2026, the embodiment of James Bond of First Light 007 was involved in a childhood tragedy which left him an orphan at the age of 11, after which he spent the rest of his childhood in various British boarding schools. We later consider Bond as a young recruit in the Royal Navy, from which he is recruited by the MI6.
More recently, IO’s interactive CEO Hakan Abrak said he hoped that 007 First Light would be the Start of a new game trilogyHowever, unfortunately, the beloved of the studio The Hitman franchise is on a break While IO works on this game. We also learned than in addition to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X / S, 007 First Light is to get a Nintendo Switch 2 version.
As for Hitman? It is not totally Abandoned, of course. Io I just announced that a cooperative mode is in preparation For games, and Mads Mikkelsen will resume his emblematic role of Casino Royale as an elusive target. But as for the new games in Hitman, the The franchise has been officially in break since 2023.
Vikki Blake is a journalist for IGN, as well as critic, columnist and consultant with more than 15 years of experience in work with some of the largest sites and world game publications. She is also a guardian, spartan, silent Hillian, legend and perpetually high chaos. Find it at Bluesky.
