IO Interactive released 007 First Light in May 2026 to strong concurrent player numbers and positive reviews, while simultaneously navigating the loss of an external partner for its online fantasy RPG Project Fantasy, which it now fully owns. The studio is closing its Istanbul office and laying off staff as part of a restructuring to focus on core projects.
IO Interactive's 2026 has been defined by two parallel tracks: the successful launch of its licensed James Bond game and the restructuring of its original online RPG. 007 First Light, released on May 26 across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, peaked at around 56,000 concurrent players on Steam and holds a Very Positive user rating. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is due in late summer 2026. The studio also partnered with Razer to integrate Chroma RGB lighting and Sensa HD Haptics into the game, adding over 80 lighting and haptic effects for compatible peripherals.
On the other side of the studio, Project Fantasy, an online fantasy RPG first announced in 2023, lost its external publishing partner in late June 2026. The partner was not named by IO Interactive, but Bloomberg and other outlets reported it was Microsoft's Xbox division, which had been undergoing a broader organizational reset. IO Interactive stated it owns the IP and remains fully committed to the project, saying the game will definitely see release. The development team was reorganized and personnel adjustments were made as a result of the partnership ending.
In early July 2026, IO Interactive announced it had acquired full ownership of the IP and project rights for Project Fantasy, following the end of the relationship with the external partner. The company will continue development and funding, but will close its Istanbul studio and lay off staff as part of a restructuring to focus on core titles. The moves secure IO Interactive's control over its next major original IP, but the studio closure and layoffs highlight the cost of refocusing on core projects.
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IO Interactive has announced it has acquired full ownership of the IP and project rights for Project Fantasy, its online fantasy RPG. The acquisition follows the end of a relationship with an external partner, believed by some media outlets to be Microsoft. The company will continue development and funding, but will close its Istanbul studio and lay off staff as part of a restructuring to focus on core titles.
IO Interactive, the studio behind the Hitman series and the upcoming 007 First Light, announced on July 1, 2026, that its partnership with an external publisher for the online fantasy RPG Project Fantasy has ended. The studio did not name the partner, but Bloomberg and other outlets reported that the partner was Microsoft's Xbox division. An Xbox spokesperson told Bloomberg that the company is reassessing its investments and focusing on top priorities, without denying the withdrawal. The split follows a broader organizational reset at Xbox announced in June 2026, which has led to layoffs and project cancellations across the division. IO Interactive stated that Project Fantasy is an IP it owns and remains fully committed to, saying in a post on X that the game will definitely see release. The studio also confirmed that the development team has been reorganized and that personnel adjustments have occurred as a result of the partnership ending. Project Fantasy was first announced in 2023 as a new online fantasy RPG designed for long-term expansion, with few details revealed since. Documents from the Activision Blizzard acquisition case previously linked IO Interactive's Project Dragon to an Xbox publishing deal, which outlets have identified as the same project.
Razer and IO Interactive have partnered to integrate Razer Chroma RGB lighting and Razer Sensa HD Haptics into the spy action-adventure game 007 First Light, released May 27. The game features over 80 lighting effects and over 80 haptic effects across compatible Razer keyboards, mice, headsets, and controllers, aiming for a cinematic 4D-like experience at home.
IO Interactive released 007 First Light on May 26 across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The spy action-adventure game, which follows a young James Bond during his trainee days, peaked at around 56,000 concurrent players on Steam and holds a Very Positive user rating. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is due in late summer 2026.