Hitman Dev Talks GTA 6 Delay, First Light For Switch 2, And What's Up With Its Fantasy Game
Overview & Key Takeaways
Hitman developer IO Interactive has discussed a number of hot-button issues, including the impact of GTA 6's delay, the status of the game's delayed Switch 2 version, and what's going on with its mysterious fantasy game.
IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak covered these topics in an interview with The Game Business. Regarding the impact of GTA 6's delay from May 2026 to November 2026, Abrak said he would be lying if he said he didn't care about GTA 6 shifting further away from 007 First Light's release on May 27. First Light was originally set to launch in March, which was just a couple months before GTA 6 was supposed to release in May. Then Rockstar delayed GTA 6, and this provided "a bit more breathing room" for First Light.
"GTA is a huge behemoth in our industry," he said. "We never wish anyone ill. They have their good reasons for pushing it. I am certain it’s going be amazing."
Hitman developer IO Interactive has discussed a number of hot-button issues, including the impact of GTA 6's delay, the status of the game's delayed Switch 2 version, and what's going on with its mysterious fantasy game.
IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak covered these topics in an interview with The Game Business. Regarding the impact of GTA 6's delay from May 2026 to November 2026, Abrak said he would be lying if he said he didn't care about GTA 6 shifting further away from 007 First Light's release on May 27. First Light was originally set to launch in March, which was just a couple months before GTA 6 was supposed to release in May. Then Rockstar delayed GTA 6, and this provided "a bit more breathing room" for First Light.
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Now Playing: 007 First Light Could Be 2026's Game Of The Year?
"GTA is a huge behemoth in our industry," he said. "We never wish anyone ill. They have their good reasons for pushing it. I am certain it’s going be amazing."
While the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC editions of First Light will release on May 27, the Switch 2 edition was delayed to summer. Abrak was asked if the Switch 2 version would vanish like Borderlands 4's Switch 2 edition did, and Abrak said fans don't have to worry about that. First Light is up and running on Switch 2 right now, he said, adding that the delay was due to IO's desire to make the game as good as it can be.
"I don't want to hear it wasn't a good version. To be completely honest, we need a bit more time to get it where we want it to be. We said summer. It's probably going be late summer. But we're going to get it out," he said.
Abrak went on to say that the Bond series has a "special place on Nintendo," which is likely a reference to the iconic Bond game GoldenEye for Nintendo 64.
Also in the interview, Abrak was asked to give a status update on IO's mysterious fantasy game, which is in development under the working title Project Fantasy. The game is being back by a unnamed partner, and documents from the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard FTC case revealed it to be Microsoft/Xbox. Given the upheaval at Xbox that saw a number of game cancellations, people were worried that Project Fantasy could have been canceled, but the game remains in development, Abrak said.
"First of all, I'm not going to answer what partner it is. I'm not going to confirm or deny anything," he said. However, Abrak confirmed that the game "is in a very healthy place, it's still financed, and it's amazing."
Abrak also mentioned that Project Fantasy is "very far" into development. All that is known about this game is that it's described as a "bold new online fantasy RPG."
Beyond that game, and possible First Light sequels, Abrak pledged that IO will continue to make new Hitman games as well. "We are looking forward to get into the weeds with Hitman again. Rest assured we cannot wait to get into the engine room and upgrade, invent and innovate with Hitman," he said.
For more on First Light, be sure to check out GameSpot's recent hands-on preview in which managing editor Tamoor Hussain said it could be 2026's Game of the Year and the best Bond game of all time.
