admin007 First Light will be the focus of a session at Game Republic New Horizons 2026, where IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak is set to discuss the development of the James Bond game. Abrak is also the game director, giving attendees a chance to hear about the project from one of its key creative leaders.
Image credit: IO Interactive and Amazon
007 First Light development session at New Horizons
Abrak said he is looking forward to taking part in the conference and discussing a project that IO Interactive had long hoped to make. The session is expected to cover the creation of the game and the team’s approach to bringing the iconic Bond character into an interactive experience.
Game Republic managing director Jamie Sefton welcomed Abrak and IO Interactive to the event. As a longtime James Bond fan, Sefton said he was particularly keen to hear more about how the studio developed the title and brought the character to life.
For attendees planning their conference schedule, the session offers an opportunity to hear directly from the game’s director about its development. The event’s wider programme also spans business, investment and technology topics, so checking the official schedule closer to the dates can help visitors plan around sessions of interest.
Sales and planned Nintendo Switch 2 release
007 First Light has become IO Interactive’s fastest-selling release so far, selling more than four million copies in its first three months. The game is also expected to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in late 2026. Players interested in that version should look out for confirmed platform and release details as they are announced.
Abrak has described the game’s performance as exceeding the studio’s expectations, while noting that the company has not yet fully recouped its investment. He explained that partnerships and royalty arrangements are part of the financial picture, and said the release is on track to become a significant record for IO Interactive.
What IO Interactive has said about Bond’s future
IO Interactive is in ongoing discussions with Amazon, the owner of the Bond licence, about the franchise’s future. For now, Abrak said the conversations are focused on 007 First Light and its continuing performance after launch. He indicated that the companies may share more about their future plans at a later date.
This means there is no confirmed announcement about a further Bond project in the information currently available. For readers following the franchise, the most reliable signals will be formal updates from IO Interactive and Amazon.
Game Republic New Horizons 2026 programme and dates
New Horizons will take place at Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough from October 14 to 16, 2026. Abrak joins a programme featuring industry figures including keynote speaker Ken Kutaragi and Rebecca Lautner, chief business officer at Landfall.
The event will also host a panel called “Hype-free Assessment of AI in Games,” with Tommy Thompson of AI and Games, Duyguy Cakmak of Creative Assembly, and Matthias Siemonsmeier of Splash Damage. The programme includes a fireside chat in the Investor Zone with Tencent business development director Teddy Keefe.
Another session, “Beyond the Pitch: Securing (and Surviving) Angel Investment,” will feature Nick Button-Brown of The Game Angels, Tracy McGarrigan of Ansible, and Ian Masters of Flick Games. Visitors can use the programme to compare sessions and allow time for the talks most relevant to their interests.
What to know about 007 First Light
Hakan Abrak’s New Horizons appearance will put the development of 007 First Light at the centre of a broader games-industry event. The game has passed four million sales in three months, with a Nintendo Switch 2 release expected in late 2026, while IO Interactive and Amazon continue discussions about the Bond franchise’s longer-term future.
