IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak to discuss development of 007 First Light at Game Republic New Horizons 2026

GamesIndustry.biz reports that IO Interactive CEO and game director Hakan Abrak will host a 007 First Light session at Game Republic New Horizons 2026, where he’ll talk through the game’s development and the challenge of bringing James Bond to life in IO’s style. That makes the session especially relevant for teams watching how a major licensed IP is handled without losing studio identity.

The timing is notable because First Light has already become IO Interactive’s fastest-selling release, with more than 4 million copies sold in three months. IO has also said the game is expected to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in late 2026, giving the project a long tail that could matter for platform planning, performance work, and post-launch support.

Abrak has also said IO is in ongoing conversations with Amazon, which owns the Bond license, about the franchise’s future. For now, though, the studio is focused on First Light and its live tail, with broader franchise plans still to come later.

New Horizons runs at Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough from October 14 to 16. The event’s lineup also includes Ken Kutaragi, Landfall’s Rebecca Lautner, and panels on AI in games and angel investment, making it a fairly broad industry gathering rather than a single-track showcase.