What IO-Interactive does

IO Interactive is an independent AAA video game developer and publisher headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, founded in 1998. The company develops and self-publishes action-adventure stealth games across PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, anchored by two core franchises: the Hitman series and 007 First Light. The company operates four studios (Copenhagen, Malmö, Barcelona, Brighton) after closing its Istanbul studio in July 2026, and is led by CEO Hakan Abrak following a 2017 management buyout from Square Enix.

The company's core technology is the proprietary Glacier engine, developed continuously for over 25 years, which supports real-time content editing, entity-based architecture, raytracing, and cross-platform deployment. IO Interactive's go-to-market is primarily direct-to-consumer through digital storefronts with tiered edition pricing ranging from $69.99 (Standard) to $299.99 (Legacy). Revenue streams include one-time game licenses, post-launch DLC, and a live service model for HITMAN World of Assassination. 007 First Light, co-published with Amazon MGM Studios, was launched on May 27, 2026 with an approximately $200 million production budget, making it Denmark's most expensive entertainment production, and sold 3 million copies in under two weeks.

Beyond first-party development, IOI Partners operates as a third-party publishing division (its first venture, MindsEye with Build a Rocket Boy, ended in March 2026). The company is developing Project Fantasy, a new online fantasy RPG IP, after regaining full ownership following Xbox's June 2026 withdrawal of funding. Additional business lines include the IOI Account cross-platform player system, board game licensing (HITMAN: The Board Game), and brand partnership integrations for 007 First Light spanning Aston Martin, Omega, Leica, and others.

Name

IO-Interactive

Legal name

IO Interactive A/S

Website

https://ioi.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

IO Interactive is an independent AAA game developer and publisher based in Copenhagen, Denmark, operating four studios worldwide. It self-publishes stealth-action franchises Hitman World of Assassination and 007 First Light across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, using its proprietary Glacier engine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

AAA Video Game Development and Publishing

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios (MPAFAAAK)

Keywords

• AAA game development
• Stealth action games
• Video game publishing
• Proprietary game engine
• Narrative action adventure

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Game Sales: Direct game sales across multiple platforms (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2) with different edition tiers (Standard, Deluxe, Collector's, Legacy). Primary revenue driver.
2. Post-Launch Content: Story expansion DLC missions, seasonal content, cosmetic outfits and skins sold as additional content for both 007 First Light and Hitman World of Assassination.
3. Hitman World of Assassination Live Service: Ongoing live service with seasonal content, Elusive Targets, crossover events, and expansions. Features Twitch drops and promotional content.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IO Interactive develops, publishes, and distributes AAA video games globally across PC (Steam, Epic, GeForce NOW), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Active core titles are HITMAN World of Assassination, a live-service stealth-action sandbox, and 007 First Light, a 2026 narrative action-adventure featuring James Bond's origin story. The company also develops Project Fantasy, an online fantasy RPG in production, and operates IOI Partners for third-party game publishing.

Product overview

IO Interactive is an independent video game developer and publisher offering a portfolio of proprietary game franchises and technology. The company operates two active core products: HITMAN World of Assassination, a live-service stealth-action game with ongoing seasonal content, and 007 First Light, a narrative action-adventure game released in 2026 featuring a reimagined James Bond origin story. Additionally, Project Fantasy is in development as a new online fantasy RPG IP. The company also develops and maintains its own Glacier game engine, offers the IOI Account platform for cross-platform player accounts, and operates IOI Partners for third-party publishing. The portfolio includes legacy titles from the Hitman, Kane & Lynch, Mini Ninjas, and Freedom Fighters franchises.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 007 First Light Third-person narrative action-adventure stealth game featuring James Bond's origin story, blending stealth, action, and globe-trotting espionage missions for console and PC gamers.
• HITMAN World of Assassination Live-service stealth-action sandbox game where players control Agent 47 across 21+ global sandbox locations, with ongoing seasonal content, Elusive Targets, crossover events, and DLC story expansions.
• Project Fantasy In-development online fantasy RPG representing a brand-new IP and significant departure from the Hitman stealth-action formula, owned fully by IO Interactive.
• IOI Partners Third-party game publishing service through which IO Interactive collaborates with external developers to publish and distribute their games.
• Hitman: Absolution Legacy Hitman franchise title (2012), still distributed as back-catalog content.
• Freedom Fighters Legacy third-person action shooter (2003) with squad command mechanics, currently sold as back-catalog.
• Hitman: Codename 47 Foundational Hitman franchise title (2000) that originated the Glacier engine, still distributed as legacy back-catalog.
• Hitman 2: Silent Assassin Legacy Hitman franchise sequel (2002), distributed as back-catalog content.
• Hitman: Contracts Legacy Hitman franchise title (2004), distributed as back-catalog content.
• Hitman: Blood Money Legacy Hitman franchise title (2006), distributed as back-catalog content.
• Kane & Lynch: Dead Men Legacy crime shooter title (2007) with innovative multiplayer modes, distributed as back-catalog content.
• Mini Ninjas Legacy family-friendly action-adventure game (2009), distributed as back-catalog content.
• Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days Legacy crime shooter sequel (2010), distributed as back-catalog content.
• HITMAN: The Board Game Hitman-franchise tabletop board game extending the brand into physical gaming, announced in 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 007 First Light sold 3 million copies in under 2 weeks
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and former.

• Amazon MGM StudioscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Amazon MGM Studios is the IP owner and co-publisher of 007 First Light, having acquired the James Bond IP through its 2021 purchase of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The partnership enables IO Interactive to develop and publish the Bond game while Amazon handles publishing duties and franchise ownership.
• Delphi Interactive LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2026Delphi Interactive is listed as developing 007 First Light 'in association with' IO Interactive. The company positions itself as an alternative to traditional publishing models for licensed AAA games.
• Triumph MotorcyclesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Official Motorcycle Partner providing Triumph TF 250-X motocross bike with functional flamethrower for gameplay. Triumph previously partnered with Bond franchise in No Time to Die film.
• Aston MartinminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Aston Martin Valhalla supercar featured in 007 First Light, modified with Q-Branch advancements for high-stakes encounters. Jaguar Land Rover vehicles also included.
• LeicaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Leica Shockwave camera featured as in-game gadget, putting cutting-edge optics in Bond's hands during field operations.
• OmegaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph 007 First Light watch featured as critical gadget on Bond's wrist, part of Omega's partnership with Bond franchise since 1995.
• Orlebar BrownminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Clothing brand partnership bringing realistic attire options into the 007 First Light experience.
• Coca-ColaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Brand partnership integrating Coca-Cola products into the 007 First Light experience.
• Herman MillerminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Furniture brand partnership enhancing realism and immersion in 007 First Light environments.
• Build a Rocket Boy (former)formerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 March 2026Former publishing partnership for MindsEye game. IO Interactive's publishing division (IOI Partners) ended the partnership in March 2026 following MindsEye's poor launch and technical issues. A planned Hitman crossover was scrapped as a result.
• NVIDIAcoreTechnology or Integration · 11 March 2026NVIDIA partnership provides DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi Frame Generation, Ray Reconstruction, and path tracing support for 007 First Light. Partnership includes promotional GPU bundle offers and GeForce NOW cloud gaming support.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Rockstar Games: Major Western AAA studio under Take-Two with deep single-player, narrative-driven franchises (GTA, Red Dead Redemption). Highly comparable as a large private/independent-style developer with proprietary engines, multi-year AAA budgets, and similar creative-culture positioning.
• Ubisoft: Large French publisher-developer behind Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and licensed Tom Clancy titles. Comparable as a major European publisher of premium action/stealth AAA games, including licensed IP, and a competitor for the same console/PC player base as IOI.
• Embracer Group / Plaion: Major European gaming conglomerate with a portfolio of AAA studios. Relevant comparable as a holding entity for multiple AAA studios and prior owner of IOI-adjacent properties, providing context for potential acquirer/strategic peer dynamics.

Direct peers

• CD Projekt Red: Polish AAA developer of The Witcher and Cyberpunk series. Direct peer as a European independent studio with a proprietary engine (REDengine), single-player narrative franchises, and ongoing live-content/post-launch support.
• Guerrilla Games: PlayStation-owned developer of Horizon and Killzone franchises. Comparable as a European AAA developer with proprietary engine (Decima) and narrative-led action franchises, even though studio is owned by Sony.
• Playground Games: UK-based AAA developer of the Forza Horizon series and the Fable reboot. Comparable as a European Xbox-associated AAA studio with proprietary tech, open-world expertise, and cross-generation console/PC releases.
• Remedy Entertainment: Finnish developer of Control, Alan Wake, and Max Payne. Highly comparable as a European independent AAA studio focused on narrative-driven action games with proprietary tech (Northlight) and a mix of self-published and licensed IP work.

Emerging players

• Quantic Dream: French narrative AAA studio behind Detroit: Become Human and Star Wars Eclipse. Comparable as a European studio focused on cinematic, single-player narrative experiences and has explored licensed IP development.
• Sumo Digital: UK-based developer supporting AAA co-development and original titles, recently acquired by Tencent. Comparable as a multi-studio European developer engaged in co-development for major publishers and working on licensed IP.
• Build a Rocket Boy: Independent AAA studio developing Everywhere and formerly the IOI Partners publishing partner for MindsEye. Comparable as a venture-funded AAA studio working on a large open-world game, with which IOI had a publishing relationship that ended in 2026.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iointeractive
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@007GameIOI
• Facebookfacebook.com/iointeractive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/io-interactive
• Instagraminstagram.com/ioi_studios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IO-Interactive