A New Dawn for James Bond Revealed in 007 First Light Gameplay Deep Dive

Bond is back and he’s younger, brasher and ready to carve his own path in 007 First Light, IO Interactive’s new take on the iconic spy. Revealed in a 30-minute State of Play on September 3, 2025, this espionage action-adventure game is a new chapter for the world’s most famous secret agent. Out March 27, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC, the deep dive gave us a first look at a game that combines stealth, action and cinematic flair.

This 26 year old Bond isn’t the suave, martini drinking superhero of legend. He’s still getting his stripes, or rather his double 0 status, as a raw and reckless recruit. The story follows an orphaned Bond who was affected by a terrible mountain climbing accident when he was 11, where his parents died to save him. After time in the Navy and attending posh boarding schools, MI6 becomes interested in an unauthorised rescue in Iceland. He’s on a mission to find rogue agent 009, a skilled manipulator whose schemes threaten a world coup. This younger Bond is voiced by Patrick Gibson (The OA, Dexter: Original Sin) who brings a rough edge to a man still developing his charm. The cast is full of familiar yet new faces with Lennie James as John Greenway, Priyanga Burford as M, Alastair Mackenzie as Q, Kiera Lester as Moneypenny, and Noémie Nakai as Ms. Roth.

007 First Light benefits from the world building skills of IO Interactive, the studio behind Hitman. Infiltrating a luxury hotel to find 009 was Bond’s first mission, as shown in the gameplay. Players can approach objectives in any way they choose, whether stealthily or chaotically. Sneaking through flowerbeds, scaling ledges or distracting guards with a well timed fire feels natural, like Hitman’s sandbox freedom. But Bond is different, he’s more straightforward and less patient. He can pick a keycard, use his laser watch to cut through obstacles or talk his way past security. Combat takes over with dynamic finishers, parries and smooth melee attacks when stealth isn’t working. Bond becomes the lethal agent fans expect thanks to a special escalation system that links to his “License to Kill” and unlocks accurate marksmanship when enemies become lethal.

The deep dive showed a high speed car chase with Bond weaving through traffic and pulling off cinematic stunts to catch a target. From snow capped mountains to sun kissed beaches the games globe trotting locations – a high stakes chess tournament in Slovakia and a gala in Kensington, London – promise visual wow. Built on IO’s Glacier Engine the environments are detailed with reactive AI and realistic animations so every infiltration feels alive. Gadgets like smoke devices, hacking tools and a dart gun add depth and let you experiment with creative solutions. A standout moment was Bond using his “Instinct” ability to slow time, targeting a chandelier to crash onto enemies or disarming a guard with a precise shot to the hand.

Unlike past Bond games tied to specific films 007 First Light has an original story drawing from Ian Fleming’s novels and the franchises cinematic legacy without being bound to either. This freedom allows IO to create a Bond unburdened by canon, a risk and a thrill. The story balances quiet moments – like driving a car while chatting with allies – with big set pieces – hijacking a plane or parachuting mid fall to survive. These sequences are Uncharted-esque in their high octane energy but with the tactical depth of Hitman. Hakan Abrak, IO’s CEO, called this blend “sharp tension” and “bold spectacle” tailored to Bond’s unique style.

If you want to get into Bond’s shoes pre-order any edition of 007 First Light and you’ll get a free upgrade to the Deluxe Edition which includes 24 hour early access and exclusive in-game skins. The Standard Edition is $69.99, the Collector’s Edition is $299.99 and includes a Golden Gun figurine, steel case and extra digital content. The Legacy Edition is $259.99 and includes the same extras for the die hards. These are available on digital stores like the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop and Steam and make the game available while rewarding early adopters with some stylish bonuses.