007 First Light developer reveals MGM’s only big demand for video game James Bond

IO Interactive franchise director Jonathan Lacaille reveals MGM’s involvement in upcoming James Bond video game 007 First Light.

MGM only had one demand for 007 First Light’s version of James Bond.

Hitman developer IO Interactive is bringing the iconic fictional spy back to the video game world with a highly anticipated new game, and film studio MGM has been “very collaborative” with the team.

Asked if anything was “off limits”, IO Interactive franchise director Jonathan Lacaille told VGC: “I’ve never had that question before, so I’ll think back, but there is nothing that comes to mind outside of – yes, don’t make him a killing machine!

“That was the first thing. But no, generally they’ve been very open. They’ve considered every idea we’ve had.

“There weren’t many massive nos or anything like that. It was always more like, ‘Yeah, but, we could do it this way, or…’

“So it’s always been very collaborative, and a lot of good feedback, because they’ve been working with the franchise for so long as well, so it was great to have them so involved in the project, right? I’m sure it was a fun ride for them as well.”

LaCaille noted the studio was working on a “whole new story” and fresh take on Bond’s origins “with the gaming medium in mind”.

He explained: “So we’re telling it in a very different way than the movie would, and we’re consuming it in a very different way because you’re engaging with him for hours, and you’re telling him what to do.”

The director also opened up on how Amazon gaining full creative control of the Bond franchise has changed the relationship with MGM.

He said: “Yes, in a way, not much – because there is always MGM in the middle, right? And MGM has always been the people we’ve interacted with, and the same for most of the production team.

“So on our day-to-day, not much of a change, and so far, what we’ve seen with the relationship with MGM now, the franchise is in good hands. “You would expect more of an impact, but because MGM has always been the main contact and the main overseer of the project, it has been quite a smooth transition.”