Developer of 007 First Light Announces Staff Layoffs, Assures Continuation of Next Franchise

IO Interactive, known for the Hitman series and 007 First Light, has announced staff layoffs following the conclusion of its partnership with an “external partner” on its upcoming title, Project Fantasy. This project is described as an “online fantasy RPG,” and reports indicate that Microsoft was set to publish the game as part of its broader strategy to streamline the Xbox business.

The exact number of affected employees remains unclear, but IO has expressed its commitment to support those impacted during this transition. The studio reassures fans that it is still fully dedicated to Project Fantasy, promising that “this wonderful universe will see the light of day.”

An Xbox representative stated that the company is reassessing its investment strategies, focusing on its top priorities while maintaining a similar level of overall investment in games compared to the previous year. The emphasis will shift towards different projects rather than a reduction in funding.

IO’s Yann Roskell chose not to comment further, and Xbox has not responded to requests for additional information.

Here is IO’s full message regarding the changes:

> Dear gaming community,
> For a good while, it has been all positive news from IO Interactive. We remain humbled and honored by the response to our latest outing with a young, unproven Bond. A bold new story and a take on one of the most famous characters in entertainment, which the world has embraced with love.
> However, today we have to share some more downbeat news. A relationship with an external partner on our own IP, Project Fantasy, has come to an end. This means we have to adapt to this new reality and its short-term consequences, including staffing decisions, which is what is happening as we write this update, and we are fully committed to supporting those affected through this challenging transition.
> Project Fantasy is a game, a world, and an IP that we absolutely love and remain 100% committed to, now and in the future. This wonderful universe will see the light of day.

These layoffs come on the heels of the successful launch of 007 First Light, which sold 3 million copies shortly after its release in May. In a recent interview, Amazon’s games head did not confirm whether IO would develop a sequel but mentioned that decisions regarding the next Bond game would be made as things settle down.