the fantastic Hitman: World of Assassination Trilogy, there's still very little known about IO's take on the world's most famous spy but the studio's track record for creating ambitious, expansive sandbox maps filled with secrets and emergent gameplay is enough to make most fans excited. James Bond is the first time the studio is working with an IP that it doesn't own but that's not preventing it from shooting for the stars.
In an interview with IGN, IO Interactive boss Hakan Abrak confirms that if its 007 game finds the audience it's looking for and becomes a massive success, the developer wants to turn it into a trilogy:
"What's exciting about that project is that we actually got to do an original story. So it's not a gamification of a movie. It's completely beginning and becoming a story, hopefully for a big trilogy out there in the future."
Abrak goes on to talk about the other exciting aspect of the project: An entirely new James Bond. Rather than basing the character on one of the several actors who have taken on the role, IO is creating its own "young" version of the character that will still incorporate the many tropes and trappings fans have come to associate with 007.
IO Interactive Is The Best Choice For A James Bond Trilogy
No One Is Better At Delivering A Spy Experience
While it remains to be seen how IO Interactive intends to adapt the James Bond franchise, it's difficult to imagine another studio being as qualified to take on the challenge. The recent Hitman games are all masterclasses in level design, stealth, and open-ended gameplay that reward attentive players with unique moments that feel earned. Its version of Bond may not deliver the gunplay and explosions so often seen in the movies, but when it comes to bringing the spy's gadgets to life, IO will likely deliver.
A James Bond game where players are dropped into an exotic location and tasked with assassinating a key target without being detected just makes sense. With careful use of specially designed tools, disguises, and stealth, it's easy to see IO capturing the fantasy of working on His Majesty's Secret Service. The fact that the story could also stretch over an entire trilogy is also exciting for those fans who have been less than pleased by the most recent James Bond films and want something fresh but familiar.
Every Hitman Game, Ranked According To Metacritic
The Hitman game series stands out as the crown jewel of stealth gaming. From Absolution to Silent Assassin, these are the best of the bunch.
Screen Rant's Take: IO's Bond Needs To Embrace The Entire Franchise
Take The Serious And Combine It With The Camp
As much as I enjoy Daniel Craig's James Bond movies, I hope IO Interactive goes the route of the classics and embraces the inherent camp of the 007 series. The Hitman games have always straddled the line between serious and silly, so I hope the studio's next game can deliver a story of globe-trotting espionage filled with things like explosive rubber ducks. Whatever direction the developer takes, I'm all in on IO Interactive giving the world the James Bond it needs.
Source: IGN
