James Bond title opens new studio for IO Interactive

Hitman Team IO Interactive has opened a fifth studio in Brighton, UK to help build its James Bond game, titled Project 007. A core team is said to already be in place on the south coast of England, and along with the developer’s other four production houses, it will “significantly contribute to the ambitious development and publishing efforts of all games currently in active development: Project 007, Project Fantasy and Hitman”.

IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak said: “We are very proud and excited to open our next studio in Brighton, where we see huge potential to expand our excellent team and attract the best talent from the UK’s exciting development scene. . Expand our operations to new frontiers and believe that IOI Brighton is a very attractive destination for all craft developers.”

The latest opening means the developer now has five studios across Europe spanning Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Turkey, and now the UK. In a separate interview with GamesIndustry.bizAbrak explained how all five outlets will work on all the projects that IO Interactive has in the works – a studio not limited to a single project.

“Across our studio, our projects are front and center,” he explained. “Which means anyone, no matter what studio or country they’re working from, can work criss-cross on different projects. It’s not like in Istanbul they’re on 007, and Brighton. In they’re just doing Project Fantasy.. They can work on all different projects.” Of course, since James Bond is a British brand, however, the Brighton studio has a lot to do with the project. Abrak added that the developer could potentially be “closer to 400 people in another year or 18 months from now”.

First revealed in late 2020, IO Interactive revealed Project 007 as a James Bond origin story. “Representing the original Bond story in its entirety, players will step into the shoes of the world’s favorite secret agent to earn his 00 status in the first James Bond origin story.” Meanwhile, the Hitman series is on “a bit of a hiatus” after Hitman 3, and the developer also has Project Fantasy in the works. It is Rumored to be an Xbox exclusive.