IO Interactive Won't Self-Publish Future James Bond Games; Amazon Will Have More Control

Future sequels to 007 First Light volition beryllium published by Amazon and MGM, not IO Interactive. In an interrogation with Polygon, Jeff Gattis, GM of gaming astatine Amazon, confirmed that Amazon Game Studios volition grip publishing connected aboriginal James Bond games.

"We did not [make First Light]," Gattis explained. "We bash person a involvement successful it due to the fact that we present ain the IP, but that IP acquisition happened aft the First Light IO woody was already done."

The woody Gattis is referring to is the 1 that allowed IO Interactive the powerfulness to self-publish 007 First Light, akin to Hitman 3. IO Interactive signed connected to marque Bond erstwhile the franchise was nether power of MGM and EON Productions, the accumulation institution that managed the James Bond marque for decades. However, Amazon acquired MGM successful 2021 (a twelvemonth aft the crippled had been announced) and yet took afloat originative power of Bond successful 2025.

Amazon and MGM inactive collaborated connected 007 First Light to guarantee the crippled was successful enactment with what's expected from the brand, but it sounds similar Amazon whitethorn person much power going forward. According to Gattis, sequels volition beryllium "done by MGM and, theoretically, by Amazon Game Studios."

It's important to enactment that Amazon Game Studios is simply a publishing limb of Amazon. AGS is publishing the adjacent 2 Tomb Raider titles, for instance. As a result, IO Interactive volition apt proceed to make aboriginal Bond titles.

However, this besides means Amazon would beryllium financially backing the project, meaning it whitethorn person a bigger accidental successful what it wants to spot successful the game. Gattis adjacent noted that Amazon is expanding into games to make synergy with Amazon's films and TV shows, thing that volition beryllium undeniably important with the upcoming James Bond film.

"We deliberation that's a existent accidental for america to make IP that extends — oregon benignant of expands upon — TV shows and movies. So there'll beryllium a Tomb Raider TV amusement connected Prime Video that'll spell alongside the games. There's a batch of things we person successful the works connected caller games that'll subordinate to Prime Video IP."

It seems similar a sequel is each but guaranteed, arsenic 007 First Light sold 1.5 cardinal copies successful its archetypal 24 hours and IO Interactive overtly expressed its intentions for a sequel astatine the extremity of the crippled with a bold rubric paper that work "James Bond volition return." IO Interactive besides antecedently stated its tendency to bash a trilogy of 007 games.

IGN's Luke Reilly besides gave 007 First Light a 9/10 successful our review, noting that it is "obsessed with bringing the Bond phantasy to beingness successful a mode nary 1 has ever managed before" and that "007 First Light is the champion Bond crippled I’ve ever played."

Cade Onder is simply a freelancer for IGN's quality team. He covers each things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You tin find him connected Twitter @Cade_Onder.