IO Interactive, the Danish developer behind the legendary Hitman series and this month's acclaimed James Bond origin story 007 First Light, has confirmed that its next major project is an online fantasy RPG codenamed Project Fantasy — and it is already deep in active development.
In a report from Eurogamer following a studio visit to IO Interactive's Brighton office, it was revealed that the Project Fantasy team is currently larger than the Hitman team but smaller than the one that shipped 007 First Light. The game is being led by IO co-owner and chief creative officer Christian Elverdam, with the project described as a "completely new direction" for the studio.
Game Details
Project Fantasy was first announced in 2023, when IO Interactive described it as "an online fantasy RPG" — a world and game built from the core to entertain players and expand for many years to come. Exactly whether this will be a massively-multiplayer online game or a smaller-scale shared-world experience has not been confirmed. The game is being built by IO's five European studios, and concept art depicts a classic fantasy trio — an elf, a human, and a dwarf — standing at the edge of a cave looking out at a vast, verdant mountainous world.
Developer Notes
Chief development officer Véronique Lallier told Eurogamer: "Something that IO is well established for is always coming with different game experiences, leveraging technology and everything, and Project Fantasy is a new IP and that's something we've always been very excited about at IO."
Lallier noted that IO has a rich history of original IP, from Freedom Fighter and Mini Ninjas to Kane & Lynch: "I think actually 007 First Light is the only game in an established franchise."
Lead sound designer Joshua Smith added: "We're trying to create something that I think doesn't exist in the space, currently. It's a world where we're going to allow you to be things you could never be. IOI is known for Hitman and things like that and this is a completely different direction."
What This Means for IO Interactive
The revelation comes as 007 First Light enjoys a stellar launch, becoming IO Interactive's best-reviewed game with an 87 Metacritic score and strong sales. Lallier confirmed that IO plans to support 007 First Light with a steady stream of new gameplay experiences — similar to how the studio has supported Hitman in the past — while the Project Fantasy team continues its work.
The studio also still intends to realize its dream of a full James Bond trilogy, meaning IO now has three major pillars: Hitman, Bond, and Project Fantasy.