Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater set the internet ablaze with hype and anticipation when it was announced, and while some snippets of the gameplay have been revealed already – we are still waiting for sort of a launch trailer or a gameplay deep dive before we reach its imminent release date of August 28.

Metroid Prime 4

The Metroid Prime games have been one of the biggest games in recent years, and funnily enough at one point, Metroid Prime 4 was supposed to be an early release title for the original Switch. It’s finally coming out for the Switch 2 (and even the original Switch) after undergoing plenty of delays, and it looks absolutely fantastic. Samus looks quite resourceful, decked with so many powers and weapons, and it’s going to be an absolute blast. It’s scheduled to come out sometime this year.

“At least one of those will be at SGF,” said Nate on X. “Which one of them would you prefer?”

Summer Game Fest 2025 will take place on June 6. The announcement was made back in January, and while not too many details about what we would get to see at the event were revealed, producer and host Geoff Keighley did say that there would be “spectacular new video game announcements, surprises, and reveals.”

Currently, no real details on any of these titles have been revealed. The most we’ve seen in recent times has been IO Interactive confirming that Project 007 would get a release on the Nintendo Switch 2 when the game is out on other platforms as well. Back in October, the studio had also confirmed that development on the title, based on the James Bond franchise, has been going well. In an interview, studio CEO Hakan Abrak said that, while development on the game was going “amazingly well,” more details would only be revealed “soon.”

“I don’t have an update today, but believe me, it’s itching here as well to be talking about it soon,” he said. “So we are following our plans. The production’s going amazingly well and we will soon be talking more about it. I know it was a little teaser, not a lot of information, but there’s a lot of cool stuff coming up. We are also very excited and when we are ready with that, we’ll be opening up.”

In the meantime, Telltale has been quiet about its progress on The Wolf Among Us 2. While the title was announced as being in development all the way back in 2019, the studio confirmed back in October 2024 that the game had not been cancelled. Rather, development on The Wolf Among Us 2 has continued, and that more details will be revealed “when the time is right.”

In April, Telltale had said that work on the game was ongoing, and that it wasn’t yet at a stage where the studio could provide an update on its progress. “We’ve been quiet because we’ve been heads down, focusing on the promise of The Wolf Among Us 2,” Telltale wrote on its official forums. “While we can’t give a big update yet, here’s a little something for you: In-progress shots from the current build. The work continues.”

Crystal Dynamics has also been seemingly working on a new Tomb Raider game in relatively silence. A report from September 2024 indicated that the studio was recruiting more developers to fill out its team for the development of the Tomb Raider game. No new details have ben revealed since, however.

Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition will feature all three Hitman titles and their assorted missions in one compelling stealth package. It’s unknown whether the rogue-like Freelancer mode or all of the other content (like Seven Deadly Sins and Deluxe Escalations) are also included in the package.

But wait, there’s more, as Project 007 is also coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. Further details, including the official name, have yet to be confirmed, but we know that it’s an origin story for James Bond and promises the “ultimate spycraft fantasy.”

Development was last touted as proceeding “amazingly well,” so maybe we’ll learn more in the coming months. Stay tuned for more details and updates in the meantime.

That’s as per IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak, who said in an interview with IGN that though the studio is still not quite ready to talk about Project 007 just yet, development on the game is nonetheless going “amazingly well”, before assuring that more information will be shared “soon”- though he did not elaborate on exactly how soon “soon” will be.

“I don’t have an update today, but believe me, it’s itching here as well to be talking about it soon,” he said. “So we are following our plans. The production’s going amazingly well and we will soon be talking more about it. I know it was a little teaser, not a lot of information, but there’s a lot of cool stuff coming up. We are also very excited and when we are ready with that, we’ll be opening up.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Abrak reiterated several tidbits that IO Interactive has shared on Project 007 over the las handful of years, talking about how the studio is looking to create “a Bond for gaming” with a new origin story– which, interestingly enough, could be the start of a new trilogy.

Last year, Abrak described Project 007 as “the ultimate spycraft fantasy”, and stated that it would be “a more scripted experience” compared to the sandbox gameplay of the Hitman series.

Job listings have suggested that the game could feature sandbox storytelling similar to the Hitman series, and that it will feature a mixture of first- and third-person gameplay.

It’s no secret that the games industry has taken a beating over the last year-and-a-half, with a eye-watering number of layoffs, ballooning game development budgets, and a startling amount of studio closures, among other hurdles- so how exactly has IO Interactive ensured that its growth is as sustainable as it was rapid? In a recent interview, we posed those questions to IO Interactive Brand Director Jonathan Lacaille, while also talking about the developer’s inner workings, its ongoing work on multiple projects, and more. Scroll ahead to read our full conversation.

"One of our main concerns with growth is to prevent a “factory-like” feeling to settle in any of our studios, meaning that above a certain number of people in the same place, you would lose your sense of belonging."

IO Interactive has seen significant growth in recent years, with 300 employees spread across five studios all over the world, while you are also continuing to recruit more people. Can you talk us through what that process has been like? Specifically, how have you tried to balance growth on this scale with ensuring that things such as your internal way of working and your company culture do not get diluted?

One of our main concerns with growth is to prevent a “factory-like” feeling to settle in any of our studios, meaning that above a certain number of people in the same place, you would lose your sense of belonging. We have been operating with the concept of a Dunbar number, set at around 150 people, to make sure we do not overgrow past one studio’s critical mass. With this number of people per studio, we make sure that we keep things dynamic, we foster a human touch in how we work, which makes it easier to instill our values and work culture in every one of our studios.

On the other hand, the creation of studios across different countries means we are able to meet talent where they are and bring more diversity into our fold with people coming from various backgrounds.

Given IO Interactive’s expansions in recent years and your plans for continued growth, what are your views on the games industry’s widespread layoffs over the last 14-15 months? What steps have you taken to ensure that you avoid the pitfalls that so many companies in the industry have been facing?

There have been many changes in the industry during the past few years: the pandemic, the growth of streaming, the digital transformation, which is intensifying, but most importantly inflation as well as the rise of production costs to create video games. All those factors directly impacted the decision-making of every single studio, so, we are seeing the adjustments to the current market and the upcoming trends.

On our end, we are making sure that IOI grows steadily and organically, as we are now moving from one game to three with Project 007, Project Fantasy, and Hitman World of Assassination. Similarly to our philosophy in terms of growth for our studios, we remain responsible and cautious in how we plan for the future but with the goal to deliver to deliver the best experiences possible to our players.

What motivated the decision to branch out and open up studios in different cities around the world? What is the process like from a top-down level in terms of deciding which locations would be best suited to new offices for IO Interactive?

With our philosophy for growth regarding the number of people per studio, our main means of expansion is to open new studios across different locations. We used this as an opportunity to go where the talent is and to go to major hubs of the gaming industry in Europe. Our studios are located in cities that have welcomed major gaming studios which gives us access to a great pool of talent and great inspiration. With our studios located in different countries, we obviously also benefit greatly from the diversity it brings to our studio as a whole.

"We are making sure that IOI grows steadily and organically, as we are now moving from one game to three with Project 007, Project Fantasy, and Hitman World of Assassination. Similarly to our philosophy in terms of growth for our studios, we remain responsible and cautious in how we plan for the future but with the goal to deliver to deliver the best experiences possible to our players."

With the Hitman series on the backburner for the time being, Project 007 is the next IO Interactive game that many people have their eye on. Given that we are now approaching the four-year anniversary of the announcement that the game had entered development, can you give us an idea of how far away we are from maybe a formal reveal for the game?

We are excited to work on the most ambitious game in the history of our studio. We currently cannot share anything in terms of reveal, but we look forward to sharing more information in the future.

IO Interactive also announced Project Fantasy in February last year. As an online action RPG, it is sounding like an entirely different experience from anything we have seen from IO in the past. How did the concept for this project first come about, and what are the biggest learnings the studio is having to focus on for this completely new kind of project?

We are very proud at IOI of our capacity to create new IPs, and our history proves it is in our DNA, with Hitman as our first game and since the Kane and Lynch, Mini Ninjas, and Freedom Fighters. We have always wanted to explore new genres which will once again be the case with Project Fantasy.

So, in terms of learnings, it still is quite similar to what we have executed in the past and having the amazing and talented people at IOI working on the fantasy genre, we are looking forward to bringing players into this new journey.

With two confirmed upcoming projects and five studios around the world, what does the division of labour for Project 007 and Project Fantasy look like across the entirety of IO Interactive? Is there a clear demarcation in terms of which studio is working on which game, or is the company taking a more fluid approach and spreading out work as and where it is needed?

We take a very fluid approach to how we work on our games indeed. Each and every one of our studios is working on our different projects, for example the game director on Hitman 3 was working from Malmö, while the executive producer was based in Copenhagen. This gives us a lot of flexibility when recruiting new people as we can have them join us through one of our five locations.

"We take a very fluid approach to how we work on our games indeed. Each and every one of our studios is working on our different projects, for example the game director on Hitman 3 was working from Malmö, while the executive producer was based in Copenhagen. This gives us a lot of flexibility when recruiting new people as we can have them join us through one of our five locations."

We have seen quite a few fun collaborations between IO Interactive and stars like Sean Bean and Dimitri Vegas in recent years. Is that something we can expect to see more of in the years to come, even with projects beyond Hitman?

Those collaborations have been a lot of fun to work on, allowing us to bring new and unexpected content to our players. We create narratives that suit those celebrities’ public persona and find ways to bring them within the World of Assassination. We of course villainize them to fit the storyline of our Elusive Targets and to have a reason Agent 47 has been contracted to eliminate them. Combined with the creative freedom we offer to our players to complete their objectives; it always makes for an entertaining game experience.

Sean Bean is the perfect example of a celebrity Elusive Target with his numerous on-screen deaths and of course the very different ways he has been taken down, which explains a lot of the enthusiasm for him to return to the game.

Also, we are changing the ways to access the Elusive Targets this year as we are introducing them in our Free Starter Pack meaning everyone can play it for free and the Elusive Targets are available on all systems. So, with new players coming in and given the feedback from the community for the return of The Undying, we have been looking at other Elusive Targets and one may arrive sooner rather than later as we recently shared on our social media channels.

Speaking of Sean Bean and future projects, might we perhaps see him in Project 007? He does have some experience with the James Bond IP…

He currently has his hands full with Agent 47, so he would have to get out of his crosshairs first!

IO Interactive has announced that it has recruited Rodrigo Santoro as Missions Director for Project 007. Santoro was previously at The Division developer Massive Entertainment, where he had a number of roles across a nearly-ten-year stint, starting as a senior level designer and his most recent role having been world director. While at the studio, Santoro worked on The Division, The Division 2, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Prior to Massive, he was at Crytek for nearly six years.

“I am super excited to join IOI,” Santoro said. “I admire how the studio dares to innovate and create new memorable game experiences. This is particularly remarkable in times when most companies are focused on making sequels. Project 007 got my attention since the day it was announced, and I feel incredibly fortunate to work with the team making the game. I was able to see more of the game and there is already something unique about it. Most importantly, every conversation that I have had so far with team members has shown the team is passionate about delivering a memorable and unique experience. Right now, I am looking forward to start working with the team, and together, delivering the best 007 game ever made.”

“Since we started the interview process last year, it was clear that Rodrigo stood out from the crowd,” said associate product director Frederik Villumsen. “When talking with any of his former colleagues, we would only hear praise. As soon as we showed Project 007 to Rodrigo, he showed his excitement for the game and was already sharing ideas, thoughts, and asking many questions! His critical thinking and enthusiasm are qualities we welcome, and we look forward to seeing him make an impact as Missions Director, where he will direct the balancing of story, art and gameplay to design the most amazing Bond missions.”

Details on Project 007 have been scant, but job listings published by IO Interactive have offered glimpses into how it might be shaping up, with suggestions that the game might feature sandbox storytelling similar to Hitman, as well as a blend of first- and third-person gameplay.

IO Interactive has said that it’s building Project 007 as “the ultimate spycraft fantasy.” The developer has also previously confirmed that the game will tell a new origin story for James Bond.

In September of 2022, IO Interactive suggested that, at the earliest, Project 007 wouldn’t be releasing before FY 2025/26 (which begins in April 2025).

Spotted by Tech4gamers, a job ad on IO Interactive’s website for the position of senior combat designer on Project 007 suggests that the game could feature both first and third-person elements. As per the listing, IO Interactive is looking for someone who has experience with creating “combat scenarios for third-person (or first-person) action-adventure games.”

What the extent of both first and third-person gameplay will be in Project 007 isn’t something the listing is very clear about. Most would naturally presume that a game where you play as James Bond is going to be primarily third-person (though there’s no shortage of notable first-person Bond games either), and while that is usually the perspective we see in IO Interactive’s games, the studio has, on occasion, dabbled in first-person gameplay as well, whether that’s through something like Hitman 3 VR or with a first-person option in Hitman: Blood Money.

Past job listings have also pointed to other potential details for Project 007, including “character-driven scenes with substantial dialogue”, sandbox storytelling similar to Hitman, and more. IO Interactive has also confirmed that the game will be an origin story, and suggested that it could be the start of a trilogy.

It’ll be a while before we see the game though. In 2022, the developer said Project 007 wouldn’t be out until at least April 2025.

In a recent interview with EDGE magazine (via MP1st), IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak said that the studio hopes to make “multiple Bond games”.

“I would love players to look back on multiple Bond games by IO and go, ‘Wow, that was quite a journey!’” he said.

When asked about whether IO Interactive’s vision for the James Bond IP was one that would span multiple years and projects, similar to how the studio has handled Hitman, Abrak said. “Yeah, absolutely. I mean, that’s the dream. That’s the ambition. And it’s also how we always talked about it.”

Currently, of course, work is underway at IO Interactive on Project 007, and little is known about what to expect from it. In the same interview, however, the developer confirmed its tone will be similar to the Daniel Craig Bond movies, and that it’s being built as “the ultimate spycraft fantasy”.

The studio has previously also confirmed that Project 007 won’t be out until at least April 2025, so it’s probably going to be a while before we get much concrete information on the game.

CEO Hakan Abran said this to EDGE in Issue 391, with the magazine reporting that its tone is “closer to Daniel Craig than Roger Moore” while the gameplay is “perhaps a more scripted experience than Hitman’s free-form jaunts.” Gadgets are likely, but again, time will tell. Despite citing actors who have portrayed Bond, Project 007’s version of the super spy is new.

However, IO Interactive is examining the IP thoroughly, from books to films, to create their version. There’s no release date for Project 007, but based on the developer’s financial report back in September 2022, it could launch between April 2025 and March 2026. As always, stay tuned for more details.