007: First Light Developers Faced Crisis with Just Three Months Left Before Hitman Came to the Rescue

IO Interactive faced a critical moment that nearly led to its closure before deciding to concentrate on the Hitman franchise for its 2016 release.

In a conversation, the studio reflected on its struggles during the early 2010s, following a series of original games like Mini Ninjas and the Kane & Lynch series. Although 2012’s Hitman: Absolution was a commercial success, it didn’t meet the expectations set by Square Enix. This period was marked by significant layoffs, reducing the team from around 200 employees to just 70 by 2013.

“We were in a really, really bad spot. We only had three months to survive,” shared Hakan Abrak, CEO of IO Interactive. This dire situation forced the studio to make some tough choices, but Abrak emphasized their commitment to the vision for Hitman 2016, which had been established back in 2013.

Abrak expressed pride in the current state of the Hitman franchise, stating, “I think Hitman, as a franchise, and our fan base and community, has never been in a better place than we are today.” He highlighted the studio’s journey, noting the significance of being an independent developer: “Being independent and financing your own game, publishing your own game, standing on your own feet, especially today, in these times in the industry, being one of the Last Mohicans left: a triple-A, independent studio where we’re not public, we’re not owned by a big corporation. We are privately owned, and it’s almost like you can count us on one hand.”

Today, IO Interactive is thriving as an independent developer, and the risk they took has paid off. The Hitman World of Assassination trilogy is celebrated as one of the greatest gaming experiences, and the studio is currently working on an exciting new James Bond title, 007 First Light.

While GoldenEye 007 is regarded as “a fantastic game,” IO developers believe that 007 First Light offers “a far wider and more expansive offering.”