When IO Interactive revealed 007: First Light, some fans couldn’t help but wonder: could this be a return to multiplayer Bond, in the spirit of GoldenEye 007 or Nightfire?
That speculation didn’t come out of nowhere. In the years following the announcement of Project 007, IOI published several job listings referring to multiplayer systems—and Project 007 was explicitly mentioned. Naturally, many assumed Bond’s next adventure might include online or co-op features.
But those expectations didn’t align with IOI’s creative direction.
Multiplayer Was Never Part of the Vision
In a recent interview with Screen Rant, 007: First Light Franchise Director Jonathan Lacaille made IOI’s position crystal clear:
“Not at all.”
— when asked if multiplayer was ever part of the original design document.
Lacaille elaborated:
“Once we thought about the project, we really wanted to lean into our strengths. We wanted an action adventure game that’s narrative-based. We’re doing a third person single player game, we’re approaching that side of the spectrum. We want a game people can come back to for years. IOI is the perfect studio to work on that.”
From the outset, 007: First Light was built as a pure single-player experience, with no plans for multiplayer at all.
Online Features? Still Possible—The Bond Way
Even without traditional multiplayer, 007: First Light could still offer light online features that enrich the experience without disrupting immersion.
For example:
- Sharing Classified Challenges—custom variants of existing missions
- Comparing results via global stealth and efficiency leaderboards
- Time-limited intel drops or “assignment windows” to encourage replayability
- A persistent MI6 dossier—a performance-driven agent profile
These systems would allow for creativity, challenge, and community interaction—without requiring full multiplayer infrastructure.
Sorry, GoldenEye Fans… Your Princess Is in Another Castle
Of course, some players were hoping for more. A modern multiplayer Bond—with gadgets, exotic maps, and spy-vs-spy mayhem—sounds like a great time. And given IOI’s track record with Hitman, those hopes weren’t unfounded.
But that kind of mode?
Your princess is in another castle.
That’s not to say IOI has turned away from multiplayer entirely. In fact, they are working on one—just not for 007: First Light. During their IOI Showcase at Summer Game Fest 2025, the studio officially revealed Stone & Knight, a new co-op mode set in the world of Hitman (shown above as the article’s header image).
The two titular agents, Stone and Knight, aren’t entirely new—they originally appeared in Hitman: Sniper Assassin, where they operated alongside Agent 47 in long-range missions. IOI is now expanding that concept into a full-fledged stealth co-op experience.
Details remain limited, but it shows that IOI is actively exploring ways to bring players together in their signature sandbox. Not through Bond—at least not for now. But if Stone & Knight proves successful, the idea of a two-agent mission in the Bond universe might not be entirely off the table someday.
Final Thoughts
Multiplayer can be a valuable addition—but it doesn’t belong in every game. In the past, some titles added it just to tick a box, often at the expense of focus and polish.
With 007: First Light, IOI made a clear decision to go all-in on a self-contained, story-driven single-player experience. And that clarity may ultimately serve the game better than any optional co-op or competitive mode ever could.
Source:
Screen Rant – 007: First Light Devs Confirm There’s No Multiplayer Mode Planned
