When IO Interactive first announced it was working on a James Bond game, expectations immediately skyrocketed. Known for their meticulous Hitman series, the studio has a reputation for crafting layered stealth experiences. With 007 First Light, they’re stepping into bigger cinematic territory, telling an original origin story for Bond that promises both spectacle and intrigue. It’s a bold move, blending IO’s methodical design with the high-octane flair the franchise demands, and based on what we’ve seen so far, the results look both ambitious and intriguing.
What we know
007 First Light puts players in the shoes of a young James Bond, long before he became the suave and seasoned agent we know today. After a heroic act in his days as a Naval air crewman, Bond is recruited into MI6’s newly revived Double 0 program. A mission gone wrong sets him on a path alongside his reluctant mentor, Greenway, uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the very core of the state. As a standalone story, the game doesn’t tie itself to the films, but instead offers a fresh take on Bond’s origins.
Gameplay promises a mix of espionage and action, with players able to approach missions through stealth, direct combat, or clever use of gadgets. Levels span a variety of cinematic environments, including daring vehicle sequences that lean into the series’ legacy of iconic chases. Replayability is built into the design as well, with mission modifiers allowing players to tackle objectives in new ways. The game is planned for release on PC and consoles, bringing IO Interactive’s vision of Bond to a broad audience.
What we saw
At Gamescom, we joined IO Interactive for a narrated demo of 007 First Light, showing off the same mission slices that recently appeared during PlayStation’s State of Play. The presentation highlighted both infiltration and high-action segments, giving a strong first impression of how the game balances espionage tension with blockbuster spectacle.
What we thought
Even at this early stage, 007 First Light makes it clear that IO Interactive isn’t just reskinning Hitman with a Bond coat of paint. While you can see the studio’s DNA in the stealth mechanics, the action is far more explosive than anything Agent 47 has dealt with. Cinematic shootouts, collapsing set pieces, and large-scale chases inject the sense of scale that a Bond adventure demands, and visually, the game impresses with its rich environments and fluid transitions between stealth and spectacle.
What stood out in the demo was how seamlessly it tried to blend different aspects of Bond’s persona. While IO is clearly leaning into the action-heavy side of things, there are also glimpses of opportunities to bluff your way through encounters or manipulate the environment more cleverly. This suggests that the team wants to deliver more than just big explosions, which is crucial for embodying Bond as a character rather than just an action hero.
That said, it remains to be seen how well the narrative side of the character will come through. Bond is more than just a license to kill – he’s defined by wit, charm, and often moral complexity. The story premise of a younger Bond finding his place within MI6 is promising, but IO will need to strike the right balance between gameplay intensity and character-driven storytelling. If the studio can nail that, 007 First Light could stand as a definitive Bond experience, not just a strong action game.
Overall, this feels like a project where IO Interactive is reaching for something bigger, and early signs suggest they may just pull it off. The visuals are sharp, the action thrilling, and the variety in gameplay already feels more ambitious than their previous work. For Bond fans and espionage enthusiasts alike, 007 First Light is shaping up to be one of the most exciting titles on the horizon.
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