007 First Light Has Sold 2.7M Copies, but IO Interactive Says It Has Not Broken Even Yet
007 First Light has quickly become one of IO Interactive’s biggest launches, but the studio says the game has not fully broken even yet despite selling 2.7M copies. According to IO Interactive chief executive officer Hakan Abrak, speaking with GamesIndustry.Biz during Summer Game Fest 2026, the James Bond action adventure sold 1.5M copies in its first day, reached 2.7M copies within a week, and is now “probably” around 3M copies sold.
That is an impressive start for IO Interactive, especially for a studio best known for Hitman and now carrying the weight of a globally recognized cinematic IP. Abrak described the performance as going beyond the studio’s expectations, but he also made it clear that the project still has not fully recouped its costs.
The discussion comes after reports claimed that 007 First Light cost nearly 200M$ to make. Abrak pushed back against that figure, explaining that it does not accurately represent the game’s core development budget. Instead, he said the larger number included other expenses around marketing, future performance related bonuses, and additional business costs tied to the project.
"marketing, future [performance related] bonuses and all those things."
"So it's less of an investment than that."
— Hakan Abrak
Abrak did not provide a more specific breakdown of where the development budget ends and where marketing, bonus planning, and other financial commitments begin. However, his comments suggest that the reported 200M$ figure should not be read as the direct production cost of the game itself.
Even so, 007 First Light has not yet broken even. Abrak explained that the financial structure around the James Bond license includes partnership obligations and royalties, which means strong unit sales do not immediately translate into full recoupment for IO Interactive.
"We haven't completely recouped yet because there's a partnership as well, and royalties. But it's above all our dreams and expectations. It's going to be a massive, massive record for us and by all measures it's going to be a huge success."
— Hakan Abrak
That statement paints a clear picture of the game’s current position. 007 First Light is selling extremely well, but licensed AAA development comes with different financial realities than a fully owned original IP. For IO Interactive, the game can be both a major commercial success and still require more time to fully recover its total investment.
2.7 million copies sold in the first week!
— 007 First Light (@007GameIOI) June 6, 2026
Your support means the world to us, and we can’t thank you enough for being part of this journey.
Get now and #EarnTheNumberhttps://t.co/St9989ZtWx#007FirstLight pic.twitter.com/YWbXf0zvuf
The more complicated question is what happens next. IO Interactive’s future with James Bond is not fully locked yet, especially after Amazon’s acquisition of the IP changed the larger ownership structure around the franchise. Abrak said it is "very possible" that IO could develop another Bond game, but he also made clear that nothing has been finalized.
"We're just, high level, talking about year one. I absolutely hope that players stick around and we do some awesome stuff year two as well."
— Hakan Abrak
According to Abrak, discussions between IO Interactive and Amazon are still ongoing. For now, the focus is on 007 First Light and its live tail, with future planning expected later.
"just talking about First Light and the live tail of it. We will soon sometime in the future be talking about future plans between Amazon and IOI."
— Hakan Abrak
Amazon’s position adds another layer to the situation. Amazon general manager of gaming Jeff Gattis recently said that Amazon did not make 007 First Light, even though it now has a stake in the property due to ownership of the IP. According to Gattis, the IP acquisition happened after IO’s deal for First Light had already been completed.
"We did not make 007 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. We didn't have the full rights to this First Light James Bond game, but sequels will be done by MGM and, theoretically, by Amazon Game Studios."
— Jeff Gattis
Gattis also pointed to Amazon’s wider strategy of connecting games, television, and film more closely. He used Tomb Raider as an example, with a Prime Video show planned alongside the games, and suggested Amazon sees major opportunities in expanding entertainment IP across formats.
"We do see this continued integration of video and movies and video games, where that line is becoming much more blurry. We think that's a real opportunity for us to create IP that extends, or kind of expands upon, TV shows and movies. So there'll be a Tomb Raider TV show on Prime Video that'll go alongside the games. There's a lot of things we have in the works on new games that'll relate to Prime Video IP. This is where we've kind of made some bets on first party content."
— Jeff Gattis
For IO Interactive, the success of 007 First Light is still extremely important. The studio took on one of the most famous characters in entertainment and managed to deliver a launch that has already surpassed its expectations. Selling close to 3M copies so quickly is a strong signal that players are interested in a new era of James Bond games, especially when handled by a studio known for stealth, systems, and stylish mission design.
At the same time, the financial reality shows why AAA licensed games carry higher pressure. Royalties, marketing, partnerships, future bonuses, and franchise expectations all affect the path to profitability. Even a fast selling game can take longer to fully recoup when the IP structure is complex.
The future of 007 First Light now depends on how well it continues to sell, how long players stay engaged, and whether IO Interactive and Amazon can align on future Bond projects. Abrak seems optimistic, but the final decision may depend on more than sales numbers alone.
For now, 007 First Light is a major win for IO Interactive, even if it has not crossed the break even line yet. The game is already on track to become a record setting release for the studio, and it may also shape the future of James Bond in gaming for years to come.
Do you think IO Interactive should continue developing future James Bond games, or should Amazon and MGM take the franchise in a different direction?
