IO Interactive is trying to turn its Hitman reputation into something new, and 007 First Light is the proof. The studio, known for 25 years mainly for Hitman, is building a Bond game that keeps some of its signature stealth DNA while moving into set-piece action, driving and firefights that Agent 47 never needed.

That matters now because the 007 first light review embargo is drawing attention to how far the Danish studio is willing to stretch beyond the World of Assassination trilogy, which delivered some of the most engaging sandbox stealth experiences in gaming. Hakan Abrak said Hitman has defined much of IO Interactive, from its technology to the communities built around it, but he also said the team has spent years developing a globetrotting contemporary spy fantasy that gave it real know-how for a game like this.

In practical terms, the Bond project still carries the studio’s old habits. Martin Emborg said the gameplay trailer shows players infiltrating a chateau through different paths, and he said the Kensington level opens up into several segments where trespassing and combat are part of the design. In those moments, players can go stealthy, go loud or choose something in between, with each route meant to be viable and fun.

Andreas Krogh said IO Interactive deliberately brought Hitman-style stealth loops, environment interactions and moment-to-moment gameplay into 007 First Light. At the same time, he said the team knew it was making a new game with a new protagonist, and that meant tackling areas where it was not as strong in Hitman. That is where the difference with Bond becomes clear: the game is more linear than Hitman, but it still combines sandbox creativity with directed action.

The tension is in that balance. Hitman made IO Interactive’s name by letting players improvise inside intricate spaces as Agent 47 traveled the world to eliminate targets, but Bond is not built to be a blank-slate killing machine. He has to drive expertly, fight in firefights and move through a more guided story, which means the studio is not just reusing a formula but rewriting it for a character whose fantasy depends on speed, spectacle and control.

That is the real test of 007 First Light. If the studio can keep the freedom that made the World of Assassination trilogy work while delivering the action Bond requires, it will have proved that its biggest strength is not just stealth design, but knowing exactly when to break it.