007 First Light Sequel: What IO Interactive Has Said So Far

007 First Light closes with a clear signal that James Bond's story is not finished, and IO Interactive has already spoken publicly about extending it. The game ends with an on-screen promise of a return, while studio head Hakan Abrak has framed a follow-up as a real possibility tied to how the community responds to this take on the character.

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Quick answer: A sequel is not officially greenlit, but 007 First Light ends with a "James Bond will return" card, and IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak has confirmed the studio is open to making one if the game performs well. The team has previously described its plans as a potential trilogy.

Image credit: IO Interactive A/S

How the ending sets up a sequel

The final stretch of 007 First Light pushes Bond into a near-drowning struggle with antagonist Damien Webb, with French operative Roth diving in to recover the THEIA core. She pulls Bond out as well, but then walks away with the MI6 data still in hand, leaving a clean thread for a follow-up to pick up.

Roth pulls Bond from the water before disappearing with the THEIA core.

The closing scene takes place at Greenway's grave, where Bond tells M the job is not done. M hands him his first 007 ID card, the Bond theme cues up, and the bullet-hole sequence rolls into a black screen carrying the line "James Bond will return."

Bond receives his 007 designation as the closing moments roll.

What IO Interactive has said about a follow-up

Speaking to The Game Business shortly before launch, IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak confirmed that the studio is willing to continue the series if the response justifies it. His framing was straightforward: both IO and Amazon MGM want to see how the game lands and whether players connect with this younger Bond.

Abrak's exact phrasing was, "If this goes really well and it's a beloved thing from the community, why not?" He also described 007 First Light as IO Interactive's most expensive project to date and said Amazon MGM became strong supporters once they played the finished work.

This is not the first time the studio has discussed a longer plan. Back when the project was still known as Project 007, Abrak said in 2024 that he hoped to build something that would "define James Bond in gaming for years to come," framed as more than a single game and pitched as a trilogy.

The closing card mirrors the traditional sign-off from the film series.

What is confirmed vs. what isn't

How the first game's reception factors in

Early critical reception for 007 First Light sits in solid territory, with a Metascore of 87 across launch reviews. Reviews from outlets such as Press Start, Creative Bloq, and Game Rant describe it as one of the stronger Bond games released to date, while a few critiques note that it plays safe in places.

That reception matters because Abrak tied any sequel decision to two factors: whether this version of Bond builds a community and whether the game performs well commercially. IO Interactive has historically followed up its larger projects with sequels built at lower cost, as it did across the Hitman trilogy, which would make a continuation a natural fit if sales hold up.

Image credit: IO Interactive A/S

How a sequel would relate to the Bond 26 film

The game series is being developed independently of the film franchise. Bond 26, the next theatrical James Bond film, is being made under Amazon MGM with Denis Villeneuve directing and Steven Knight writing, and remains in early development with no cast, title, or release date confirmed. A theatrical release before 2028 is considered unlikely.

Because IO Interactive's Bond exists as its own continuity with Patrick Gibson voicing a younger version of the character, a 007 First Light sequel would not depend on casting or scheduling decisions tied to the film. The two projects share an owner in Amazon MGM but operate on separate timelines.

Image credit: IO Interactive A/S

What to watch for next

There is no confirmed announcement window for a follow-up. The most reliable signals will come from IO Interactive itself once launch sales settle and from any future statements by Amazon MGM about expanding the game series. Until then, the trilogy framing remains a stated ambition rather than a scheduled project.

For now, the clearest fact is the one shown on screen at the end of the campaign: Bond will return. Whether that return comes from IO Interactive depends on how the first game holds up over the months ahead.