IO Interactive announces new sales milestone for James Bond game 007 First Light
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Developer IO Interactive has confirmed that its James Bond title 007 First Light has passed 4 million sales in the roughly three months since launch, marking a strong showing for the studio during an otherwise turbulent period. The milestone, announced on social media with thanks to players, comes despite recent layoffs at IOI tied to the cancellation of a Microsoft Xbox publishing deal for its other project, Fantasy, making the game's commercial success a notable bright spot for the developer.
The 4 million figure marks a significant rise from the 2.7 million sales reported by CEO Hakan Abrak just over a week after launch. 007 First Light, which follows a young Bond training in MI6's double-oh programme, was self-published by IOI and received widespread critical acclaim, including a four-star review from Eurogamer. Its strong sales performance has strengthened the case for a sequel, though Amazon, the franchise's newer owner, has indicated it would want greater involvement in any follow-up, while a Switch 2 version of the game also appears to be in the works.
- 007 First Light has passed 4 million sales in three months
- Up sharply from 2.7 million reported a week after launch
- Success boosts sequel prospects, though Amazon wants more input
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Developer IO Interactive (IOI) is the Danish studio behind the video game franchise Hitman, and it now also holds the licence to make James Bond games, having self-published its first, 007 First Light, earlier this year. The game puts players in the role of a young Bond training to become an MI6 double-oh agent, and it has been well received by critics.
This matters because IOI has recently faced difficulties elsewhere in its business, including job losses linked to a cancelled publishing deal with Microsoft for another of its games, Fantasy. Sales figures for 007 First Light are therefore being watched as a sign of the studio's financial health and as a factor in whether a sequel gets made.
Amazon, which bought the rights to the James Bond franchise in 2022, is also relevant background, as any future Bond games would need its backing and involvement.