An Amazon executive has essentially confirmed that a 007 First Light sequel will be made by MGM Studios and Amazon Game Studios. You can read more on the news from PC Gamer here.
The article goes into detail about how the deal was struck for IO Interactive before Amazon got the rights to James Bond, hence the reason why the game plays very similarly to the Hitman series.
I’m going to get some stick for this, but I’m ready for it.
I haven’t watched anything 007. I played GoldenEye back in the day, but that’s it. I don’t fully understand the character of James Bond or 007.
007 First Light was my first proper introduction to who James Bond is and what 007 actually is. In all honesty, the game has done a fantastic job of making me want to know more. I now have every intention of watching all of Daniel Craig’s Bond films because the game genuinely intrigued me.
This is where my concern comes in with Amazon. IO Interactive has done an amazing job with 007. The game played well, the story was great, the action was exciting, and it felt like I was in control all of the time.
The game has done very well financially as well. It has already sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. That alone makes it difficult to argue that Amazon should move the franchise elsewhere.
I fear for the franchise after that. I see no reason why IO cannot continue with a potential sequel and beyond. They’ve proved they can make a very good James Bond game. Amazon and MGM Studios, on the other hand? I’m not so sure.
Sometimes the hardest part of making a great game is building the foundation. IO Interactive has already done that. Handing the franchise to another studio now risks losing what made 007 First Light such a success in the first place.
IO Interactive has a proven track record with Hitman and already has a solid base with 007. Allowing another studio to attempt to make a game like this has the potential to be a complete disaster.
IO Interactive has largely stayed away from a lot of pet peeves players typically have with games. No microtransactions, no requirement to stay connected online (unless you choose to), plenty of replayability, and a lower price than many other AAA releases from publishers like EA or 2K.
Will Amazon or MGM Studios have the same sentiment?
Amazon’s games have often leaned towards live-service experiences with ongoing monetisation. That’s exactly what I’d hate to see happen to James Bond. It’s why I believe IO Interactive should be left with the reins while Amazon focuses on publishing the game, especially if a sequel goes ahead.
