Project 007 Features a \"Young Bond\" In Hitman Devs' Planned Trilogy

IO Interactive has finally unveiled more details about their highly anticipated Project 007! Discover what we know about this upcoming James Bond game.

A Younger James Bond Takes Center Stage in Project 007

IO Interactive's Ambitious Trilogy Plan for Project 007

The creators of the acclaimed Hitman series, IO Interactive, are tackling one of cinema's most iconic figures: James Bond. Their upcoming title, Project 007, is envisioned as more than a single game; CEO Hakan Abrak aims for it to launch a brand-new trilogy, revitalizing the Bond universe for a new generation of players.

Since its November 19, 2020 announcement, speculation has swirled about how IO Interactive's stealth expertise would translate to a Bond game. In an October 16 interview with IGN, Abrak revealed the game's impressive progress and a key detail: players will experience a younger Bond, before he became 007.

"The exciting part is creating an original story," Abrak told IGN. "With all the tradition and history... to work on this with the Bond family, creating a young Bond for gamers; a Bond gamers can call their own and grow with."

Abrak emphasized the studio's two-decade preparation for this project. IO Interactive's Hitman games are renowned for immersive stealth gameplay, a strength likely to be leveraged in Project 007.

However, James Bond presents a unique challenge. This marks IO Interactive's first foray into an external intellectual property (IP). "James Bond is a huge IP. It's not ours... I hope we'll define James Bond in gaming for years to come," Abrak stated, adding their goal is to create a "universe for gamers to own for many years, growing alongside the Bond in the films."

Abrak's vision extends beyond a single game. He sees Project 007 as the foundation of a trilogy. "It's not a movie gamification," Abrak clarified. "It's a completely original story, hopefully the start of a large trilogy." This mirrors the success of IO Interactive's Hitman trilogy.

Everything We Know About Project 007

Project 007 Story

While plot details remain scarce, the official website confirms a "wholly original Bond story," where players "step into the shoes of the world’s favorite Secret Agent to earn their 00 status in the very first James Bond origin story."

Importantly, it's confirmed (IGN interview) that the game will be unconnected to any film portrayal of Bond. In a 2023 Edge Magazine interview, Abrak hinted at a tone "closer to Daniel Craig than Roger Moore," depicting a younger Bond in his early days as a secret agent.

Project 007 Gameplay

Concrete gameplay details are limited. Abrak's Edge Magazine comments suggest "a more scripted experience than Hitman’s freeform jaunts," describing it as "the ultimate spycraft fantasy," hinting at gadgets and a departure from Agent 47's lethal objectives.

Job listings (PlayStation Universe, July 2021) suggest a third-person action experience with "sandbox storytelling" and "cutting-edge AI," potentially indicating mission dynamics similar to Hitman.

Project 007 Release Date

A release date remains unannounced, but IO Interactive's positive progress reports fuel anticipation. Abrak's enthusiasm is palpable: "I don’t have an update today, but believe me, it’s itching here as well to be talking about it soon… There’s a lot of cool stuff coming up."