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Digital Trends
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
To make 007: First Light, Hitman's creators had to get uncomfortable
On paper, the idea of the developers behind Hitman making a James Bond game sounds like a complete no brainer. Of course that team would be able to create a great spy game that naturally plays off everything it has accomplished with its flagship series over the past few decades. Take Agent 47's suit to the dry cleaner, tailor it a bit, and throw it on James Bond. What's so hard about that, right? But for Io Interactive, making a James Bond game was an exercise in discomfort. 007: First Light aims to create an entirely new take on the character, delving into an origin story that will allow the team to make a Bond that belongs to the gaming medium. Maybe it would be easy to throw that character into Hitman's immersive sim template and let him take down targets with stealth and his cunning wit, but that wouldn't truly capture the character's ethos. To get Bond right, Io would need to step outside of its comfort zone. Recommended Videos Following Friday night's Io Interactive Showcase, where the studio shared more details about First Light, I spoke with CCO Christian Elverdam about where the project shares DNA with Hitman and where it needed to push away from it. It wasn't enough to trade one agent for another; it would require a studio that's spent nearly a decade perfecting one instrument to learn a new one. 'It sounds easy to mix Hitman and Uncharted,' Elverdam tells Digital Trends. 'I saw a lot of people say that. I'm like 'hah … yeah, sounds easy … '' A 360 Bond Ahead of 007: First Light's debut trailer, I'd wager that a lot of people had a certain expectation in mind. We were no doubt in for an immersive sim starring a debonair spy who uses his brains and charisma to outwit unsuspecting goons. That's not exactly what First Light is. It's not just that Io is going full Hollywood for 007's action; it's that James Bond himself is totally different from the suave hero we're used to. First Light will tell an origin story about the spy, showcasing him as a young, brash agent in training. The move has come as a shock to some fans, but Elverdam explains that the change came from a desire to create a Bond that belonged to gamers. 'If you're going to build a James Bond for the games medium, where do you start? We were like, let's start at the beginning,' Elverdam tells Digital Trends. 'There's this great question of who's James and who's 007? I think James has always been a rebel. He's always been at odds with authority, but we thought it was interesting that most young people yearn to find out what's their purpose. If you put that question in front of James Bond, it starts brewing some magical stuff instead of saying 'this is who you are.' This is a different version of that. I think we tried to communicate that in the trailer. It's a little bit like, hm, he's not fully fleshed out is he?' The Bond we see in First Light's debut trailer already teases a very different take on the character, but he's not totally foreign. The confident spy we know is somewhere underneath all the uncertainty waiting to be fully formed. Elverdam says that the Bond ethos is still present here in the character's moral compass. 'First and foremost, I think James Bond is a true hero,' Elverdam says. 'He will do what's right almost at any price. From the bottom of his existence, he has some element of that. I think 007 is a profession in a way. It's both about being a great spy and a great agent, and that comes at a price of humanity in some cases. It's super fun to play with this idea: What if he's not the perfect spy? What if he makes some mistakes and then learns some spy craft along the way? He's always audacious … He stirs up chaos and expects something good to come out of it. That's deep in his bones as a character.' Really getting down to the essence of Bond wouldn't just be about hanging on to the character's core personality traits. The gameplay would have to reflect him too, which meant that First Light couldn't be your average action game. It had to be something that felt custom built for Bond's skill set. The team's Hitman experience would come in handy there, as it knows how to craft action and tension that isn't just built around gun fights. 'With Bond, our insistence, which was shared across everyone that was involved with everyone in the game, was that we wanted the 360 version of James Bond,' he says. 'And that means it's not just a shooter. That was super important for everyone. It turns out that Hitman had a lot of stuff to teach us because most people who don't know Hitman think it's just an endless game about killing people left and right, but in reality, it's actually about almost not doing anything. There's just a lot of non-shooting gameplay, and that was one of the things we brought into James Bond … I think the movies are clearly action films, but there's not a lot of shooting. It happens, but it's not super frequent. It's much more action, running, driving, fighting, spectacle moments. And that's hard to build, but it's one of the things where we said we have to nail that.' Elverdam is tight-lipped when it comes to sharing any new details that haven't been revealed about the game. Every time he even alludes to a gameplay component, he treats it like a spoiler and leaves a trail of teases. All he does affirm is that First Light won't quite be like Hitman, though that series' approach to freedom will still be somewhere in 007's bones, just as Bond's do-gooder nature will still be underneath the younger hero's skin. 'A Hitman location you should be able to play 100 times. And I think our desire with Bond is not that it's one and done, but it's also not 100 times,' Elverdam says. 'You can't play a level 100 times and keep discovering new stuff. You might replay it because you enjoy the story, and there certainly are different paths you can take in the game, without spoiling too much.' Learning a new instrument Based on the bold changes to the Bond series, it may seem like Io Interactive has a lot of creative freedom here. After all, it's putting a very new spin on a character that's historically been locked to one fairly rigid interpretation. The independent studio does have free reign in some ways, but Elverdam notes that there's a bit of a self-imposed restriction too — one that's also present in its Hitman games. 'I'll be totally honest. I was a big part of reimagining Agent 47 in the current universe. I never felt like I had freedom even though we own that IP,' Elverdam says. 'You are beholden to the fans, and to a legacy and to an understanding of the core. I don't think James Bond is different. You have to respect that there are a lot of people out there who have an opinion about what the character means to them. So, we have a lot of freedom, but we don't have a lot of freedom. And that's actually a good thing.' It's always uncomfortable to learn stuff. If you play the piano the first time, it sounds miserable. As we discuss this, the conversation turns to the Hitman series. While it has been around for decades, its defining moment truly came in 2016 when Io Interactive retooled the series into what it is today. Like First Light, that too was a risk that had to balance fan expectation with creative vision. It paid off, as that game spawned a trilogy that was collected into one live service offering that's been going strong for nearly a decade now. It expanded once again last night with a new 007-themed update that brings Casino Royale's villain to the fold as a new target. I ask Elverdam what he feels the studio did right to make that happen. He cites a lot of reasons, such as its unshakable desire to turn it into a service, but one part of his answer stands out in context of First Light. 'I kind of always felt like you're either making a Hitman game or you're not, which means that you cannot pretend that this is a game for everyone. It really isn't,' Elverdam says. 'And by doing that unapologetically, I think we found a really engaged audience. We're not going to be Fortnite. That's not in the cards. And being independent allowed us to just double down on that. We're here to build the absolute best version of what Hitman can be. And that's the real first right call we did.' It's with that answer that I can clearly see how First Light is a product of the Hitman team, even if the games don't look as similar as you'd expect at first glance. This is a team that has the utmost respect for its audience and wants to do right by them, but also understands that sometimes the right thing to do is what fans aren't expecting. First Light seems to be a product of that thinking, telling a reimagined take on Bond because that's what's going to make for a better story, even if not every fan can see it right now. It's about pushing fans out of their comfort zone, because that's exactly what Io Interactive is doing to itself too. It's creating a game with more cinematic action, a narrower structure, a pure hero, and a James Bond that no one has ever met before. And the studio is embracing it all. 'There has to be an element of growth and discomfort,' Elverdam says. 'Man, we have to learn something here. We have to invite some new people into Io to teach us how to do stuff, which is great! It's always uncomfortable to learn stuff. If you play the piano the first time, it sounds miserable. There's some growing pains there with James Bond. How do we do this again? That's why we do it.' 007: First Light launches in 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
Top Gear
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Top Gear
PlayStation State of Play: packed with games, but lacking real star power
Gaming New Bond and old Mortal Kombat made for a serviceable showing, but nothing more Skip 8 photos in the image carousel and continue reading You might well disagree with our assessment of last night's State of Play, the latest in a series of Sony livestreams in which upcoming games strut around to catch your eye. Whether you do or not probably depends on how much you love James Bond, samurai swords and fighting games. If you do like those things, you sound pretty hard, so we're happy to just defer to whatever you think and then buy you a new pint. Sorry. Have a good evening. Advertisement - Page continues below To us, though, it felt like a decent showing that lacked a real hype machine. There was a big new IP reveal in the form of 007 First Light , some admirable screen time given to more niche propositions like Baby Steps and Grasshopper Manufacture's Romeo is a Dead Man , and an exciting reveal from Nioh 3 . Still, if you find yourself watching an extended reveal of an official PlayStation fightstick at one of these livestreams, a nagging sense emerges that this probably isn't one for the ages. You might like No, fair enough. 007 First Light has a bit of triple-A glitz and glamour about it. And handing that franchise over to Io Interactive, the Danish studio behind the Hitman games, makes all the sense in the world. It was probably the biggest moment of the show, but seeing James Bond as a young floppy haired man who might easily have walked on from an Uncharted game left us neither particularly shaken nor stirred. Maybe we're just being harsh because of what they've done to Thief . Advertisement - Page continues below You'll want to take a seat: they've turned it into a VR game. No disrespect to the project or the platform, but this is a seriously respected series of immersive sims from the late Nineties to early Noughties we're talking about. The 2014 reboot suffered for having been pushed through the square hole of triple-A blockbuster conventions instead of being allowed to retain its aloof, slow-burning, hardcore qualities, so watching footage of someone waggling their hands cartoonishly around the screen while they pickpocket guards and shoot water arrows into fireplaces doesn't exactly quell the fears that might happen again. It's like hearing your favourite band have reformed, but only to appear on The Voice. Enough moaning, let's hear about some good games. Quite right, those exist too. Romeo is a Dead Man is the latest project from Grasshopper Manufacture, the legendarily idiosyncratic studio who made No More Heroes , Let it Die , and, in a supreme act of irony, No More Heroes II & III . This one sees you fighting hordes of undead, Dead Rising -style, and the combination of slick combat and a hyperactive mashup of visual influences makes it punch through the noise. It ought to be a lot of fun. Capcom's Pragmata looks like some imaginative sci-fi action with a faint whiff of Death Stranding to it. And speaking tangentially of Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Solid Delta will be too, and although that's a rather more known quantity at this point (it's MGS3 running in Unreal Engine), it's a nailed-on part of our gaming diet this year when it arrives on 28 August. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Glad you noticed. Nioh 3 and Ghost of Yotei provided a one-two punch of feudal era Japan swordplay, and demonstrated two distinct approaches to that time, place, and activity. The Nioh threequel will offer more ultra-demanding duels that reward deft inputs and quick reactions, while Sucker Punch's follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima will do that, but with a bigger health bar and more narrative choices. Anything else worth keeping an eye on? Now that we've had a cup of tea and put the Thief VR thing behind us, yes there is. The show might have been missing that 'Hold on, what ?' reveal moment, but its smaller beats were very pleasing. Like the Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection , which takes an archival approach to the first four classic beat 'em ups plus their various spinoffs, bundling them all into one place where they're super complete – sorry, Komplete – and playable on modern hardware. And Silent Hill f , a horror spinoff from the famously misty mainline series, which invites you to 'find the beauty in horror'. At first sight this one seems to be about the worries of a girl in adolescence made manifest as gore-drenched nameless horrors with blades all over them. Um, is it ok if we have a go at finding the beauty in that while the lights are still on and we keep pausing to decompress with restomod Tiktoks? Ok, deal. This is only the start of all the big announcements and trailer-spamming though, with Summer Games Fest 2025 due to start in earnest on Friday 6 June. You can keep abreast with all its happenings by checking the official schedule.
The Guardian
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Nintendo reveals Switch 2 console due to launch on 5 June
After months of intense speculation and cryptic teaser videos, Nintendo has finally unveiled the successor to its Switch console. The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch on 5 June at a retail price of £395.99 for the basic package and £429.99 bundled with Mario Kart World. As expected, the screen is now larger, measuring 7.9 inches and offers double the pixels of the previous display, in 1080p resolution. It also supports up to 120 frames per second for smooth animation, as well as high dynamic range lighting for better colour contrast, while the console remains the same thickness as its predecessor. The dock allows connection to a TV with up to 4K resolution supported. The redesigned Joy-Con 2 controllers now connect to the console magnetically. The SL and SR buttons are larger to make it more comfortable to use the Joy-Cons as indepedent controllers. Each one can also be used as a mouse, with a rollerball for precise movement. This feature was illustrated with a wheelchair basketball game, Drag X Drive, in which the two Joy-Cons are used to push and steer the wheels. The announcement live stream began with a trailer for launch title Mario Kart World, a new entry in the karting series featuring stunningly detailed circuits and an open world map. Races take place in different regions around the planet, while players are free to go off-road while racing. Also announced was Legend of Zelda Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, a prequel to Tears of the Kingdom coming this winter. Aerial racer Kirby Air Riders and a new Donkey Kong adventure, Donkey Kong Bonanza, were also revealed, the latter arriving on 17 July. Several third-party titles were introduced throughout the hour-long stream. These included a new title from Dark Souls creator, From Software – The DuskBloods – a dark adventure filled with spectral warriors and ferocious dinosaurs; it's out in 2026. Expected for launch or shortly after are Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, Hades II, Split Fiction, EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, Street Fighter 6 and Hitman World of Assassination. Hitman developer Io Interactive also revealed the development of a new James Bond game for the console. Other technical details were also discussed. Switch 2's built-in speakers have been improved, with 3D audio supported. The new stand offers more sturdy support with a variety of viewing angles. Nintendo's online network, Nintendo Switch Online, will offer a range of new downloadable retro games from GameCube and other systems, including Legend of Zelda Wind Waker and Soulcalibur II. A reproduction GameCube controller will be available to purchase alongside the Switch 2 launch. Like its predecessor, Switch 2 is a hybrid system, allowing users to play games on its built-in screen or on a TV, and users will be able to alternate between the two. The machine also offers full backwards compatibility with most original Switch games. Switch 2 updated games will also offer upgraded visuals. Launching soon after the console, the party game Super Mario Jamboree: Nintendo Switch 2 edition offers mouse controls, audio recognition, camera support and better rumble effects. Legend of Zelda Breath of The Wild: Nintendo Switch 2 edition features higher resolution visuals and new gameplay features, including an in-game smartphone-style map app. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Pokémon Legends and Kirby and the Forgotten Land will also get Switch 2 editions. Owners of the original titles will be able to purchase upgrade packs. Sign up to Pushing Buttons Keza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gaming after newsletter promotion Nintendo is going big on the social features of its new console. The right Joy-Con has a new C button, which gives access to GameChat and an in-game communication feature which lets users chat to friends while playing. The mic in the console recognises your voice, filtering out ambient sounds for clear comms. Players can share their game screens with others in the chat. Groups can chat and share screens while playing different games. A Nintendo Switch 2 camera, available from launch, connects to the console allowing video chat while playing. A new GameShare feature will allow users to share a single game with up to three other players. The original Switch was launched in March 2017 and went on to become the company's most successful home console, selling more than 150m units including its later Switch Lite and Switch OLED editions. While Switch 2 remains technically behind the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, Nintendo has long competed on innovation and game quality rather than specifications. With a broader games lineup than the original machine, more advanced visuals and a more intuitive design for its Joy-Con controllers, this was a strong introduction. 'You'll have to wait just a little bit longer for launch,' said Switch 2 design director Takuhiro Dohta at the close of the live stream. For avid Nintendo fans that will feel like an eternity.
