IO Interactive has confirmed their James Bond in the upcoming 007 First Light will be more ‘naive’ than past Bonds.
Currently in-development at the Swedish game studio, IO has already confirmed that the upcoming video game will see an earlier take on the gentleman spy that reflects “modern values”.
Speaking to Radio Times 007 First Light senior producer Theuns Smit revealed that IO’s version of Bond, who has yet to be granted his License to Kill “still has a bit of naivety” and is very much at the start of his espionage journey.
“We really see this as a new chapter of Bond in gaming,” he said. “When you meet him, he’s not yet at MI6. He’s not yet the cold, hardened, battle-scarred Bond you may have seen previously. He still has a bit of naivety, eyes wide open, as he’s about to enter this world of espionage. He doesn’t have his 00 status yet, so partly he has that purpose that he’s driving for… to discover who he is meant to be”.
From the gameplay we’ve seen, it’s clear IO is leaning into their tried and tested Hitman formula, albeit with a few significant tweaks. Smit revealed that while there will be more “linear” parts of the game to drive the story forward, there will also be more “open” areas to allow for exploration and player choice.
“Even though there are certain things that from our expertise we get to rely on and bring in a little bit, we’re still giving you that creative approach to tackle objectives the way you want to,” he said.
First Light is a “reimagined” origin story for Ian Fleming’s iconic spy, with Dexter Original Sin’s Patrick Gibson taking on the lead role. While gadgets, exotic cars and a globe-trotting story are all Bond staples, IO has revealed they’re going to be creating some distance between their version of Bond, and the ‘old school’ spy of the 60s.
First Light cinematics director Martin Emborg revealed their Bond has evolved and will be a “modern guy” and will reflect “modern values”. “He’s evolved through the decades, and obviously, we reflect modern values,” he said. “So it’s not going to be your old school Bond, which would just be tone deaf in this day, right? He’s a modern guy.”
First Light will now release on May 28, 2026, having been delayed for two months. IO has confirmed however that the game is “fully playable” from beginning to end.
“We’re confident this sets 007 First Light up for long-term success, and we sincerely appreciate the patience and continued support we’ve received ever since we revealed the game,” they posted on X.
The game is currently targeting PC, Xbox Series, PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 platforms for launch. 007 First Light’s Switch 2 port will be released physically as a Game Key Card on launch day.
