007 First Light is releasing soon, introducing audiences to an all-new version of the iconic James Bond. There have been James Bond games in the past, of course, and even some great ones (Goldeneye 64 is a common favorite). Yet, none of them have been as ambitious as 007 First Light, which is taking an exciting, modern-AAA blockbuster swing at the famous espionage hero.
The game comes from IO Interactive, a studio that earned effusive praise from the stealth gaming community for its Hitman: World of Assassination trilogy. As anyone who has played those games will eagerly tell you, IO Interactive is arguably the perfect team to helm a James Bond game. But while it has IOI’s fingerprints on it, 007 First Light is making notable pivots away from the Hitman formula, both in terms of gameplay and narrative.
007 First Light May Be a Long-Term Solution to This James Bond Problem
007 First Light is introducing a fresh start for James Bond, and it could prove to be the gift that keeps on giving for franchise fans.
007 First Light Features an Original Story Following a Young James Bond
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of 007 First Light is its narrative. While most James Bond movies are loose adaptations of specific Ian Fleming Bond novels (e.g., Casino Royale, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service), IO Interactive’s take on the character is meant to be completely distinct. That is to say, he and the story he finds himself in take elements from Fleming’s novels, but they are IOI creations first and foremost.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.
EasyMediumHardPermadeath
This is rather interesting, as although the most recent on-screen Bond has starred in several original 007 stories, his first appearance was an adaptation of Casino Royale, a Fleming novel. In fact, Pierce Brosnan is the only Bond actor to have debuted in an all-original 007 movie, and even he appeared in other adaptations later in his tenure as Bond. That 007 First Light is opting to move decisively away from the Fleming novels right out of the gate is certainly bold, and suggests that the game may take several other creative liberties with the character as well, as it’s effectively unbound by source material.
This is especially relevant when you consider that First Light is a new James Bond origin story, following a 26-year-old Bond as he embarks on a mission to take down Agent 009, who has gone rogue; successful completion of this task will grant him his 00 status. He’s already made some waves in the world of espionage, but he’s far from the confident, authoritative legend that we usually see onscreen.
The Evolution of IO Interactive’s Social Stealth Sandbox
Agent 47 might exude the same deadly slickness as James Bond, but his charisma and style aren’t quite up to par with 007. This is something that IO Interactive is accounting for with 007 First Light’s stealth-action gameplay, which looks to have a number of fun spins on a familiar framework.
One of First Light’s most fitting gameplay mechanics is the bluffing system, which lets players manipulate NPCs towards a variety of ends. For example, Bond may put on a US accent and pretend to be a journalist to put suspicious security officers at ease, or he might lie to get out of a sticky situation. Bluffing depletes a resource called Instinct, so choosing when and under what circumstances to make use of the mechanic can be a significant part of an overall mission strategy. James Bond is known for his silver tongue, so this feature is especially appropriate.
At the same time, 007 First Light doesn’t seem to be fully turning its back on its Hitman progenitors. Traditional stealth is usually an option, and Bond can employ some advanced gadgets to distract or incapacitate foes. There’s an improvisational element to the gameplay as well, as the player can turn several everyday objects into deadly weapons if they so choose. Very Agent 47 indeed.
And of course, James Bond is still an action hero at the end of the day: 007 First Light will feature all-out gunfights (which it playfully refers to as “License to Kill” sections) where brutal efficiency and creativity are encouraged in a much more fast-paced context. These sections will ideally highlight Bond’s combat prowess, serving as a nice balance against the slower social stealth gameplay.
007 First Light Will Have a Focused, Mission-Based Structure—For the Most Part
Like the Hitman games, 007 First Light is designed around a sequence of core story missions, rather than being open-ended like an open-world or non-linear adventure game. Players will travel to comfortable villas, tropical resorts, and dramatic, snowy mountain ranges as part of this mission structure, setting a diverse series of stages for First Light‘s sandbox-and-setpiece-driven gameplay. Based on what we know already, it looks like First Light‘s missions will feature a mix of combat, stealth, traversal, and driving, facilitating a far more robust, multifaceted mechanical sandbox than what’s offered by the Hitman games.
Locations Confirmed to Appear in 007 First Light
- Iceland
- London
- Tokyo
- Dubai
- Monoco
- Kensington
- Slovakia
Aside from the main campaign, 007 First Light will feature training simulations (designed and operated by Gemma Chan’s Dr. Selina Tan, a new character developed for First Light). We still have more to learn about them, but it sounds like these training sim challenges will follow in the footsteps of Hitman: World of Assassination‘s live-service integration: IO Interactive has confirmed that it plans to support First Light through updates and special events within this “simulation” framing device.
With a flashy, blockbuster narrative, flexible stealth-action gameplay, strong setpieces, and an ongoing development roadmap on par with IO Interactive’s previous work, 007 First Light has a chance to be the best James Bond game ever made. At the very least, it will serve as another opportunity for IOI to exercise its masterful stealth and encounter design, which is good enough for me.
- Released
-
May 27, 2026
- ESRB
-
Teen / Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases
