Wednesday, September 3rd 2025

IO Interactive and Amazon MGM Studios Unveil Gameplay Deep Dive of 007 First Light, Launching March 27, 2026

IO Interactive, the award-winning developer and publisher behind the globally-acclaimed HITMAN franchise, and Amazon MGM Studios today shared the first gameplay deep dive of 007 First Light during an exclusive Sony PlayStation State of Play. Players were introduced to the first footage of the standalone original, re-imagined origin story of James Bond, allowing them to see the aspiring spy in action. 007 First Light also revealed its launch date, set to release on March 27, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, and is available for pre-order starting today. Additionally, players who pre-order 007 First Light will get upgraded to the 007 First Light - Deluxe Edition for free, granting a 24-hour Early Access, as well as exclusive in-game skins and outfits.

Patrick Gibson (Dexter: Original Sin, The OA) announced the ensemble cast of voice and motion capture actors for 007 First Light, confirming that he will portray James Bond in the game. Classic 007 characters, such as M (Priyanga Burford), Q (Alastair Mackenzie), and Miss Moneypenny (Kiera Lester), will also feature, alongside new ones, including Bond's mentor, John Greenway (Lennie James - Fear the Walking Dead, Save Me), and Miss Roth (Noemie Nakai).

The gameplay deep dive provided a glimpse of the locations that players will be able to discover in 007 First Light, showcasing an undercover mission during an exclusive chess tournament held in Slovakia, as well as Bond infiltrating a lavish gala in Kensington, London. These two missions are but a glimpse of some of the elevated and exclusive locales that Bond will have to learn to blend in with as he discovers the world of espionage.

At the core of 007 First Light's gameplay is the Creative Approach. Using its expertise in the spy fantasy genre, IO Interactive developed a Bond experience that allows players to take on objectives using different sets of skills, from pure stealth, direct action, or using a bit of both with some improvisation:
  • Spycraft ensures that stealth and observation are just as powerful as any weapon in Bond's arsenal. From eavesdropping on key conversations and pickpocketing vital items, to inspecting the environment for hidden clues and gathering critical information, these mechanics open new pathways and opportunities in every mission.
  • Instinct is a signature gameplay feature in 007 First Light, giving players a versatile resource to turn the tide in any situation. Bond can use his instincts to lure enemies into vulnerable positions, bluff his way out of suspicion when discovered, or sharpen his focus for greater precision and power in combat. This mechanic captures Bond's quick thinking and adaptability, allowing players to respond to changing circumstances with style and control.
  • Gadgets from Q Branch are a core part of Bond's toolkit in 007 First Light, woven directly into moment-to-moment gameplay. From hacking and cutting locks to creating distractions or incapacitating targets, these versatile tools open up new possibilities for stealth, misdirection, and tactical improvisation in any mission. Players will unlock new gadgets as they progress through the missions, which will expand their loadout and strategies to deal with the challenges they will have to face.
  • Combat in 007 First Light is designed to be fast, fluid, and true to Bond's character, blending precision ranged shooting, visceral and impactful melee encounters, and a unique escalation system that reflects his measured use of force. In close quarters, Bond can deliver dynamic takedowns, throws, and parries that feel weighty and cinematic, often using the environment to his advantage. When enemies escalate to lethal force, Bond is granted his License to Kill, unlocking his expert marksmanship with firearms that can be seamlessly integrated into the flow of action. This interplay between ranged and melee combat, which integrates Bond's gadgets, ensures every confrontation feels personal, responsive, and grounded in the 007 fantasy.
"With 007 First Light, we're building a wholly original James Bond experience from the ground up, one that blends the sharp tension of espionage with the bold spectacle the franchise is known for," said Hakan Abrak, CEO of IO Interactive. "The gameplay is rooted in our signature approach to immersive design, combining stealth, action, and creativity in a way that feels uniquely tailored to Bond."

Alongside the freedom of Creative Approach, 007 First Light delivers the bold, cinematic set-pieces that define the Bond franchise. As shown during the gameplay deep dive, players will experience thrilling, gripping moments such as high-speed chases, breathtaking shootouts, battling enemies aboard a hacked airplane, and being thrown out into the open sky. These showstoppers are handcrafted to capture the danger, elegance, and spectacle of Bond's world, while showcasing his evolution into an elite agent capable of handling every challenge that he is presented with.

007 First Light will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and for PC for $69.99, €69.99, £59.99 (SRP). Players who pre-order any edition of 007 First Light will get upgraded to the 007 First Light - Deluxe Edition for free. The 007 First Light - Deluxe Edition Upgrade includes a 24-hour early access, four item skins: the Gleaming Lighter, the Gleaming Earphones, the Gleaming Phone, and the Gleaming Pen, an exclusive weapon skin, as well as four outfits: Day of the Dead, Desert Explorer, Silent Anchor, and Gentleman Operator.

007 First Light - Deluxe Edition will be available at launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and for PC for $79.99, €79.99, £69.99 (SRP).

007 First Light - Specialist Edition will be offered exclusively on Amazon.com, featuring standout and unique packaging for the game's case, as well as an exclusive original outfit for Bond, the Classic Tux, for even more flair.

007 First Light - Legacy Edition will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC for $299.99, €299,99, £259.99 (SRP). It includes the full game, the Deluxe Edition content, an Exclusive Golden Gun weapon skin, the Obsidian Gold Suit outfit, a Golden Gun Figurine with Stand & Secret Compartment, a Certificate of Authenticity, and a Steel Case with Magnet.

007 First Light is scheduled to launch on March 27, 2026. The game is available to pre-order now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, on Amazon.com, as well as for PC on Steam and Epic Games Store. Pre-order details can be found at ioi.dk/007firstlightgame.

Players who sign up for an IOI account now (HERE) will receive the Gilded Wraith weapon skin, and the On Duty outfit for 007 First Light at the game's launch, along with additional rewards in the future. 007 First Light can also be wishlisted here, with exclusive in-game rewards to be unlocked for 007 First Light for each milestone reached.

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17 Comments on IO Interactive and Amazon MGM Studios Unveil Gameplay Deep Dive of 007 First Light, Launching March 27, 2026

#1
W4llBangdMyself
The screenshots show nothing but chromatic aberration, blur, and more chromatic aberration. 🤮🤮🤮 The only thing this makes me want is to erase all memories of the game's existence from my brain.
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#2
Space Lynx
Astronaut
W4llBangdMyselfThe screenshots show nothing but chromatic aberration, blur, and more chromatic aberration. 🤮🤮🤮 The only thing this makes me want is to erase all memories of the game's existence from my brain.
there is like a pale shade over every scene of every second, it dims the colors... not sure if that is the same thing but i don't like it

i mean maybe you can tweak these things in settings, i don't know, when it hits the $15 bin in a 2-3 years i will prob get it, that's how i do 99% of gaming these days
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#3
wNotyarD
Lifelong 007 fan that I am, with all the promises IOI is making, I hope the game is fun to play and runs well because the graphics do not impress me at all. Even if Glacier may be showing its age, at least it's not UE5.
Also, puns aside, this may very well be the first time I bite the bullet and buy a collector's edition. If it arrives here, that is.
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#4
TheDeeGee
Awesome, $70 which stays in my pocket :D

Thanks!
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#5
Bobaganoosh
the graphics and animations look remarkably bad in that trailer. wow. Graphics aren't everything, for sure, but the way the trailer is, everything is just so jarring that it does not look like a fun experience.
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#6
sepheronx
Maybe I'm getting old and eyes not working that well. Or it may be because of youtube, but the graphics look fine to me. I can't tell that much of a difference comparing this to whatever else. Maybe the animations aren't exactly the best and maybe the ragdoll effects in some scenes made me giggle a bit and maybe glass shatter effects look dated, it seems to look alright overall. Maybe the blur effect can be turned off.

It may be good.
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#7
Paskudne
Im confident that IOI will deliver a good game - they always did(with one exception) but image quality is poor, to say politely. Especially heavy reliance on FSR.
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#8
Niceumemu
Game looks fine other than it running at 15 fps or lower for extended periods multiple times throughout the demo. Optimization does not claw back that much performance

If they expect people to only be able play at decent frame rates by using fake frames and fake resolution this will be a hard pass from me. If they somehow manage to fix the performance well enough for release though then it looks potentially good enough to buy when it goes for 30-50% off
Posted on Reply
#9
KrazyT
sepheronxMaybe I'm getting old and eyes not working that well. Or it may be because of youtube, but the graphics look fine to me. I can't tell that much of a difference comparing this to whatever else. Maybe the animations aren't exactly the best and maybe the ragdoll effects in some scenes made me giggle a bit and maybe glass shatter effects look dated, it seems to look alright overall. Maybe the blur effect can be turned off.

It may be good.
Totally agree, it doesn't looks *that* bad.
People should stay positive, with a good gameplay, mix with Uncharted and Batman (Asylum trilogy), we can have a fun game in the 007 universe !
Posted on Reply
#10
Craptacular
I'm wondering if the graphics have been toned down so that it can run on the Switch 2 at a decent frame rate.
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#11
Jtuck9
wNotyarDLifelong 007 fan that I am, with all the promises IOI is making, I hope the game is fun to play and runs well because the graphics do not impress me at all.
Here's hoping IO's involvement brings back some of the absurdity of the earlier Bond Films

("looks perfectly Japanese")
Posted on Reply
#12
the54thvoid
Super Moderator
Jtuck9Here's hoping IO's involvement brings back some of the absurdity of the earlier Bond Films

("looks perfectly Japanese")
That's just Sean Connery being Sean Connery.
Russian sub commander with Scottish accent? Check.
Spanish/Egyptian immortal with Scottish accent? Check.
The list goes on. I miss him, mind.
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#13
Gigaherz
Someone tell their art lead to stop maxing out alll the post fx sliders in the engine please.
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#14
Chomiq
Doesn't look too bad I guess. Finally I'll be able to cause all the mayhem I want without having the mission score dropped to lowest. My only problem is that it's not an actual Bond actor from the movies, but some generic young looking guy. But hey, what can you do if they haven't announced new Bond.
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#15
Scrizz
looking at that reminds me of Hitman.
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#16
wNotyarD
Scrizzlooking at that reminds me of Hitman.
It's IOI still using Glacier engine, so that's not surprising
Posted on Reply
#17
Splinterdog
In the actual gameplay videos on YT it looks like James Hitman Bond :D
Posted on Reply
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