James Bond’s hopefully triumphant return to the video game medium is on the way with 007 First Light, but it won’t be released until 2026, making now a great time to pick up a fan-favorite from developer IO Interactive. The Bond franchise as a whole is in an anticipatory state, with Denis Villeneuve recently tapped to direct Bond 26, an exciting choice after the widely unpopular sale of the film franchise rights to Amazon. On the gaming side, it’s been mostly positive ever since IO Interactive announced it was working on what was previously known as Project 007.
The reveal trailer early in June showed we’d be introduced to the youngest James Bond ever, and the origin story so far seems serviceably novel while still clearly a 007 tale, but the real excitement still lies with the developers responsible. IO Interactive is acutely qualified to take on the James Bond franchise thanks to its pedigree of creating the Hitman franchise, from which a beloved game is on a deep discount for the Steam Summer Sale.
Hitman: Blood Money Is 90% Off On Steam
93% Positive User Reviews
Until July 10, Hitman: Blood Money is 90% off on Steam, taking its price all the way down to just $0.99. It was released back in 2006, so it’s a bit dated by modern gaming standards, but it’s still held in high regard as a fan-favorite game in the series. This is evidenced by the Steam user reviews. It’s received nearly 12,000 reviews all-time, and holds an impressive 93% positive rating.
Blood Money Helped Define 007 First Light Studio IOI
A Cult Classic
Hitman has been IO Interactive’s bread and butter since the studio’s founding, but Blood Money is a particularly notable entry. It first came to PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Xbox 360, so it was able to expand on the series’ foundation and push the envelope further than its predecessors. While many series hallmarks go back to the first game, Blood Money is arguably the game that has most informed the modern games in the series.
It introduces plenty of new mechanics, like hiding bodies, and improves a lot of systems that are integral to the Hitman experience, such as NPC AI. It’s more linearly connected than the new Hitman trilogy, but Blood Money stands out for really pioneering the sandbox levels that the series has become known for. It puts a heavy emphasis on stealth, rewarding players who complete a mission without any witnesses, and ensures every target can be eliminated in a way that makes it look like an accident – a beloved (and often goofy) staple of the series to date.
IO Interactive had some success with the more action-forward Kane & Lynch series, but it’s still best known for Hitman, and beloved for the puzzle-box level design that has emerged post-Blood Money. Despite some dated mechanics, anyone who enjoys the new Hitman trilogy will find a lot of familiarity in Blood Money.
Blood Money Is Still Hitman At Its Best
A Template For 007 First Light
Despite the popularity of the World of Assassination trilogy, Blood Money is still generally favored as the series’ peak by longtime fans. Instead of the loosely connected episodes the series has become known for, Blood Money boasts a more traditional narrative surrounding a major threat to Agent 47’s employer, the International Contract Agency. It’s the exact kind of big-picture storyline that makes for a great spy thriller, and proves IOI has the chops for James Bond.
If you’re new to playing games from IOI, Blood Money might be the place to start, especially if you’re interested in seeing the development lineage of 007 First Light. It’s still a great game, as evidenced by its recent reviews on Steam also being overwhelmingly positive. Although Hitman: Blood Money isn’t IO Interactive’s first game, it’s arguably the studio’s most foundational release, and it’s hard to pass up such a great deal while we wait for more info on 007 First Light.
007 First Light
- Released
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2026
- Developer(s)
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IO Interactive
- Publisher(s)
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IO Interactive
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
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Unknown
