007 First Light Criticized as 'Woke'

Some players are calling 007 First Light “woke” because James Bond takes direct orders from M, portrayed by Priyanga Burford in the game. The role of M in 007 First Light follows a longstanding tradition of Bond’s superior being played by a woman.

007 First Light marks the long-awaited return of Ian Fleming’s iconic MI6 agent to video games. 007 First Light, developed by Hitman studio IO Interactive, is the first time the James Bond franchise has received a major new game in more than a decade, with the last one being 2012’s 007 Legends. First Light features a much younger version of Bond, before he had earned his 00 title with MI6, in a fully original story not directly based on any of the novels or films. However, some fans are taking issue with one aspect of the new version of James Bond.

How Long to Beat 007 First Light

Those diving into the world of James Bond in 007 First Light may be wondering how long the game is. Here is how long it takes to beat 007 First Light.

007 First Light Called “Woke” over Female M

007 First Light has seen criticism from some players of being “woke,” despite being rooted in franchise tradition. A recent video showcasing the first few minutes of the main campaign of 007: First Light depicts James Bond recovering from a helicopter crash, taking orders from MI6 head M. The backlash is largely directed at James Bond taking direct orders from a female superior, though the role of M has often been played by female actors in the James Bond films. The role of M in the Eon Productions films was played by Judi Dench in seven different movies, beginning with Pierce Brosnan’s Bond debut in GoldenEye and playing the role until the third Daniel Craig movie, Skyfall.

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Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)

M’s portrayal in 007 First Light is one of several classic characters from the James Bond franchise to appear in the game. Miss Moneypenny, played by Kiera Lester, also appears in 007 First Light. Q, portrayed by Scottish actor Alastair Mackenzie in his first video game credit, provides Bond with many of his iconic gadgets within 007 First Light. The role of James Bond in 007 First Light is played by Dexter: Original Sin star Patrick Gibson.

007 First Light looks to have everything going for it in James Bond’s triumphant return to video games. The game has received positive early reviews from critics ahead of its release, with many praising both First Light‘s excellent writing and its close-quarters combat, in particular. First Light‘s strong reception from fans has encouraged ambitious plans from its developers as well, with IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak expressing interest in creating a sequel if First Light sells well.

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Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)

The newest James Bond adventure could be the perfect way for many fans to bridge the gap to the secret agent’s next film. Eon Productions has yet to officially confirm any major details about the next James Bond film, including who will be the next actor to play Bond will be. The franchise saw a major shake-up in early 2025 as well, with longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson selling creative control of James Bond to Amazon in a deal worth nearly $1 billion. The future of James Bond remains to be seen, with plenty of changes likely on the way for the long-running franchise.