Amazon Games confirms it will handle future James Bond games

Amazon Games will develop future James Bond games following the acquisition of the iconic spy franchise IP, according to Jeff Gattis, GM of gaming at Amazon. The announcement comes after IO Interactive's 007 First Light achieved record-breaking sales of 1.5 million copies in its first 24 hours. Future Bond titles will be handled by MGM and Amazon Game Studios, marking a significant shift in the franchise's gaming future.

What this means for James Bond games

According to Gattis, Amazon did not develop 007 First Light but now owns a stake in its success through IP ownership. "We did not [make First Light]. We do have a stake in it because we now own the IP, but that IP acquisition happened after the First Light IO deal was already done," Gattis explained to Polygon.

The timing of Amazon's IP acquisition means the company inherited the benefits of First Light's commercial success without direct involvement in its development. IO Interactive self-published the game, which sold faster than any of the studio's previous Hitman titles.

Future James Bond games will represent Amazon's first major foray into developing content for the franchise directly. Whether IO Interactive will continue its involvement with Bond games under Amazon's stewardship remains unclear.

Amazon's entertainment integration strategy

Amazon's approach extends beyond gaming into a broader entertainment ecosystem. "We do see this continued integration of video and movies and video games, where that line is becoming much more blurry," Gattis said. "We think that's a real opportunity for us to create IP that extends — or kind of expands upon — TV shows and movies."

The company's plans include a Tomb Raider TV show on Prime Video alongside games, demonstrating this cross-platform strategy. Amazon has "a lot of things we have in the works on new games that'll relate to Prime Video IP," according to Gattis.

This represents Amazon's commitment to first-party content creation across multiple entertainment formats. The company is positioning itself to compete with established entertainment conglomerates by leveraging its existing streaming platform alongside gaming ventures.

Amazon's gaming track record

Amazon Games has struggled to establish itself in the AAA gaming space with original titles. Previous projects including Crucible and King of Meat failed to find broad audiences, highlighting the challenges Amazon faces in game development.

The company may have better prospects with established franchises like James Bond and Tomb Raider. These properties come with built-in audiences and proven market appeal, potentially offering Amazon a more reliable path to gaming success.

"This is where we've kind of made some bets on first-party content," Gattis noted, suggesting Amazon is willing to invest significantly in major IP acquisitions rather than building new franchises from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who will develop future James Bond games?

Future James Bond games will be developed by MGM and Amazon Game Studios, according to Amazon's GM of gaming Jeff Gattis. This represents a shift from IO Interactive's self-published approach with 007 First Light.

Did Amazon develop 007 First Light?

No, Amazon did not develop 007 First Light. IO Interactive self-published the game. Amazon acquired the James Bond IP after the First Light development deal was already completed, giving them a stake in its success.

What is Amazon's strategy for its entertainment IPs?

Amazon aims to integrate video, movies, and video games across its entertainment properties. This includes developing games that relate to Prime Video content, such as a planned Tomb Raider TV show alongside games, blurring the lines between different media formats.

How successful was 007 First Light?

007 First Light sold 1.5 million copies in its first 24 hours, making it faster-selling than any of IO Interactive's previous Hitman games. This commercial success likely influenced Amazon's decision to prioritise future Bond game development.

Will IO Interactive continue working on Bond games?

It remains unclear whether IO Interactive will continue developing Bond games under Amazon's ownership. Amazon has not confirmed ongoing partnerships with IO Interactive for future Bond titles beyond their existing agreement for First Light.

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