IO Interactive says Hitman will return after 007 First Light

May 8, 2026·3 min read

Dylan Turck

Dylan Turck is the driving force behind Zero1Gaming's newsroom, writing about what’s new, what’s worth playing, and what’s changing across the industry. From reviewing new releases to game updates, and studio developments. Dylan focuses on the stories gamers actually care about. He also keeps an eye on the competitive side, attending e-sport tournaments, and keeping an eye out for the updates that flip the meta overnight.

IO Interactive is not done with Hitman, even as the studio prepares to launch 007 First Light later this month. CEO Hakan Abrak said the team is looking forward to working on Agent 47 again once its current slate is further along, expressing that IOI wants to “upgrade, invent and innovate with Hitman.”

The comment gives Hitman fans a firmer signal that the series is not being left behind while IOI expands into Bond and its still-unrevealed Project Fantasy. Abrak did not announce a new Hitman game, but his wording points to a studio that sees Agent 47 as an active part of its future rather than a finished trilogy.

Bond is taking the front seat first

IOI’s immediate focus is still 007 First Light. The game is developed and published by IO Interactive and follows a younger James Bond during his MI6 training, with the studio pitching it as a standalone origin story for the character.

That makes sense for the timing of Abrak’s comments. 007 First Light is IOI’s largest project to date, and Abrak described it as the studio’s most ambitious and most expensive game. The studio is also handling the Bond license on its own terms, using the Glacier engine and its experience with systemic stealth while building something more cinematic than Hitman.

The official 007 First Light site points to missions built around locations such as Slovakia and Kensington, with gadgets including a Q-Watch, phone, earphones, lighter, and pen. That gives IOI room to use some of the problem-solving DNA players know from Hitman without making Bond feel like Agent 47 in a suit.

Hitman still has work before the next full game

The next Hitman step is not necessarily Hitman 4. Abrak previously told Variety that players would hear more about Hitman co-op before IOI starts talking properly about the next main Hitman game. GameSpot reported that he described co-op as a good extension of World of Assassination that could bring new mechanics and combinations to the series.

That tracks with IOI’s current handling of Hitman World of Assassination. The game has become the complete platform for the modern trilogy, with 21-plus locations and ongoing support around targets, modes, and new features. IOI has also announced Stone & Knight, a co-op experience for World of Assassination, through its official Steam news page.

Keeping World of Assassination active gives IOI a cleaner bridge between the trilogy and whatever comes next. It also lets the studio test ideas around shared play without turning the next Hitman into a full reset before it is ready.

Agent 47 is waiting behind two larger projects

IOI now has three lanes to manage: Bond, Hitman, and Project Fantasy. GameSpot reported that Project Fantasy remains in development as an ambitious multiplayer project, while 007 First Light is the release carrying the studio’s short-term attention.

That means Hitman fans should not expect a sudden reveal tomorrow. The useful part of Abrak’s comment is the direction, not the timing. IOI is saying plainly that it wants to return to the series, but it also wants to do more than repeat the World of Assassination formula.

The next confirmed Hitman update remains co-op for World of Assassination. A full new Hitman will come after IOI is ready to show how Agent 47 changes beyond the trilogy.

Tagged In

ioihitman