Bond is back. After a prolific absence from the world of video games thanks to Activision having no idea what to do with the franchise, the super spy is finally returning to the video game world and IO Interactive, the developer of the Hitman series, is bringing him there. IO is developing and publishing the new game, currently titled Project 007, and will be an original James Bond origin story that lets you earn your 00 status. The teaser trailer gives no indication of game style or how far along the project is, but IO Interactive is currently recruiting “elite talent” for Project 007.
Project 007 (working title) is a brand new James Bond video game with a wholly original story. Earn your 00 status in the very first James Bond origin story, to be developed and published by @IOInteractive. pic.twitter.com/BRdKtARDSH
— James Bond (@007) November 19, 2020
What exactly an origin story means isn’t too clear. It’s actually not the first since Activision’s Quantum of Solace featured parts of Casino Royale, which is a James Bond origin story. The Project 007 teaser trailer features the sound of footsteps in snow as the barrel of a gun is loaded. Then it whips around showing the iconic gun barrel from the opening of (nearly) all 007 movies as the James Bond theme music plays over everything, which isn’t much to go off of. There’s also no confirmation on just what Bond we’ll be playing as, though the language may hint that this is not be a traditional 007 we are controlling, especially with Daniel Craig having left the franchise (or in the process of leaving thanks to COVID delays).
IO Interactive’s experience with Agent 47 and the Hitman series obviously gives the development team plenty of experience developing the type of game that a James Bond game should be. It will be interesting to see if the developer moves the franchise back to a third-person point of view or once again tries to recapture the magic of GoldenEye 007 by going first-person.
The Bond franchise has been dormant in gaming since 2013 when Activision lost the license to make games. Before that the company struggled to find its footing with the franchise, releasing a lackluster series of games and odd spin-offs, including a GoldenEye remake/reboot. Before that Electronic Arts held the license and had a bit more luck with it, releasing the underrated Agent Under Fire and Nightfire before jumping the franchise to third-person and even bringing Sean Connery back to reprise the role in From Russia with Love. However, no Bond game has ever come close to the success and cultural impact of Rare’s GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo 64. Whether or not IO Interactive’s attempt will fare better is something for our eyes only once Project 007 drops.
