007 First Light Preview: IO Interactive Turns James Bond into the Ultimate Stealth Spy
IO Interactive is the studio behind the new James Bond game 007 First Light, and we got a clear look at the game’s tone, cast, and gameplay from an in-studio preview. The studio’s experience with stealth and sandbox design shapes this younger Bond, and the game is scheduled for release in March 2026.
Game basics and release
007 First Light is developed by IO Interactive and will launch on March 27, 2026. The confirmed platforms are Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.
Story, tone, and cast
The game tells an origin-style story for a younger James Bond. After an early mission called the “Iceland Incident,” Bond is recruited into MI6 and works alongside more experienced agents as he grows into the role.
IO describes this Bond as a more contemporary, younger take: “He’s the new kid on the block,” said Martin Emborg, 007 First Light cinematic and narrative director. “He’s still coming into himself. He has charm as a younger Bond, but just hasn’t weaponed it as effectively.”
The cast includes Patrick Gibson as Bond, Priyanga Burford as M, Lennie James as John Greenway, Alistair Mackenzie as Q, and Kiera Lester as Moneypenny.
IO says this Bond and the supporting characters reflect modern values, and when asked about the franchise’s traditional “Bond girl” trope, Emborg answered simply: “As characters.” The studio also said, “Not a dinosaur.”
Gameplay mechanics and examples
The preview showed a mix of stealth, gadgets, social stealth, and action. IO leverages systems similar to Hitman’s environmental interactions, while adding Bond-focused tools.
Bond has a multi-function watch that highlights enemies, interactive objects, and hiding spots such as grass. Players can equip up to four gadgets on missions; the demo used a dart and a laser. Environmental distractions are usable — for example, setting a wheelbarrow of flowers on fire to draw guards away.
Social options include bluffing and impersonation. In one scene Bond climbs to a window, is spotted, and a “bluff” prompt appears; successfully bluffing lets him pass as part of a security detail. Andreas Krogh, 007 First Light gameplay director, noted there are some situations and enemy types where bluffing is not possible.
Action segments include a car chase sequence across Slovakian countryside and an airport combat sequence. A mechanic called “LICENSE TO KILL” appears onscreen when lethal force becomes justified during a mission. Bond also has a Focus ability that slows time for precise shots, comparable to mechanics seen in other action games.
Weapons behavior includes standard pistol handling, grabbing enemy guns, and using thrown weapons followed by melee follow-ups. The demo ended with a high-stakes sequence involving an exploding airplane and Bond free-falling.
Development background and goals
IO Interactive is known for Hitman, and the studio was approached by Amazon MGM and Eon Productions about making a Bond game. IO’s CEO Hakan Abrak said, “As I said before, we only worked on creating our own original material,” and later added, “Unknowingly, we might have trained for this all our existence, right?”
The studio aims to make 007 First Light accessible to newer, younger players while keeping recognizable Bond elements for longtime fans. Abrak said, “It’s contemporary, it’s near future. Part of the challenge [for us] is, does a 17-year old, 19-year old, 21-year old, do they know Bond? They’ve heard about it, right? But do they have the same experience I had, maybe not in the same degree,” and IO wants the game to introduce that Bond fantasy in gaming.
As context for the franchise and the market, the James Bond brand remains commercially valuable; more details on the franchise’s ongoing industry interest are available on this Hollywood Reporter page. Meanwhile, overall consumer spending on video games in the U.S. was reported in 2024; see this ESA report for figures.
For discussion of the franchise’s historical treatment of women, see commentary such as that published by The Guardian.
