007 First Light

007 First Light is a 2026 action-adventure stealth game developed and published by IO Interactive, the studio behind the Hitman series. It marks the first major James Bond video game since 007 Legends in 2012, following Activision's loss of the non-exclusive license. Announced in November 2020, full production began after Hitman 3's completion in 2021. The game was fully revealed in June 2025 and released on May 27, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version coming in Q3 2026. It was originally slated for March 27, 2026 but was delayed by two months.

The game tells an original Bond origin story, following a 26-year-old Royal Navy aircrewman named James Bond as he is recruited into MI6's revived 00 program. The narrative spans locations including Kensington, Vietnam, and Antarctica, involving a predictive computer cover-up operation. Patrick Gibson provides the voice and performance capture for the young Bond, with Priyanga Burford as M, Kiera Lester as Moneypenny, Lennie James as John Greenway, and Alastair Mackenzie as Q. Critics praised Gibson's portrayal as one of the best to take on the role.

Gameplay blends third-person stealth, unarmed combat, gunplay, and gadget-based espionage across linear missions. Players use gadgets like a Q-Watch, phone, earphones, lighter, and pen. The campaign runs 15-20 hours and includes driving segments, cover shooting, infiltration, and side quests. It is single-player only with no multiplayer. The game runs on IO Interactive's proprietary Glacier engine and is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.

007 First Light received overwhelmingly positive reviews, holding an 87 Metacritic score and an 88 on OpenCritic. The Washington Post gave it a perfect 100, calling it the best Bond story since Casino Royale. Within 24 hours of release, it sold 1.5 million units, making it the fastest-selling title in IO Interactive's history. First-week sales reached 2.7 million units. The game launched on Steam and Epic Games Store, with pre-orders including a free Deluxe Edition upgrade and 24-hour early access. [edit]

007 First Light is a third-person action-adventure game emphasizing stealth and infiltration. Players control James Bond as he sneaks through environments, uses gadgets, and engages in hand-to-hand combat and gunfights. The game features linear missions with large-scale action set pieces. Gadgets include a Q-Watch for hacking, a phone for intel, earphones for communication, a lighter for distractions, and a pen as a tool. Driving segments and cover-based shooting are also present. The campaign takes 15-20 hours to complete. [edit]

The game follows a 26-year-old James Bond, a Royal Navy aircrewman, as he is recruited into MI6's revived 00 program. His first mission involves gatecrashing a tech gala in Kensington, then going undercover as a playboy at a Vietnamese resort, and finally infiltrating an Antarctic R&D facility. The plot revolves around a predictive computer cover-up operation that sends Bond on urgent missions worldwide. The cast includes Patrick Gibson as Bond, Priyanga Burford as M, Kiera Lester as Moneypenny, Lennie James as John Greenway, and Alastair Mackenzie as Q. [edit]