IO Interactive has hinted that 007 First Light‘s villain, Bawma, may not be the type of straightforward “one-sided” foe you’d perhaps expect to see in most Bond movies, and could end up “surprising in the story”.
Speaking to IGN, IO Interactive CEO and 007 First Light Director Hakan Abrak revealed that Bawma, played by Lenny Kravitz, has “more sides to him” than your typical “villain” adding: “We wanted more than just a one-sided villain, like we wanted to have some kind of charisma. He has more sides to him that could maybe turn out surprising in the story.”
Kravitz, who plays the theatrical pirate king in the upcoming game, admitted that he’s drawn on some of his own experiences when deciding how to portray Bawma, calling him an “interesting guy” that “they’re not quite sure how he’s going to turn”.
“I grew up in the Bahamas as well as New York City and there were guys who had [Bawma’s] vibe and were doing similar things in the islands”
Lenny Kravitz
“I’ve met some folks that are… similar to his character,” he said. “I grew up in the Bahamas as well as New York City and there were guys who had [Bawma’s] vibe and were doing similar things in the islands.”
IO Interactive has clearly leant on their tried-and-tested Hitman-style formula for First Light, offering players a chance to achieve objectives in multiple ways. While the team revealed there will be some more linear sections to drive the story forward, there will also be more sandbox-style, open levels to allow for exploration.
While there has been clear inspiration from the beloved Ian Fleming novels, right down to the scar on Bond’s face, IO said that their reimagining of the British spy will see him have “modern values’, as making him like the spy of the 60s would be “tone deaf today”.
Speaking to Monstervine, cinematics director Martin Emborg said their younger, more naiive Bond will “modern guy” and will reflect “modern values”.
First Light is now due to be released on May 27, 2026 – following a two month delay – with IO recently revealing the system requirements. The game is powered by the same Glacier Engine used in the Hitman games, albeit it has been “significantly” enhanced to deal with the more dynamic gameplay and set pieces.
“For 007 First Light, IO Interactive has significantly advanced its proprietary Glacier engine, evolving it to support the game’s cinematic tone, dynamic action, and breathtaking set pieces,” a post on the official game website reads. “The enhancements focus on delivering a smooth and immersive experience, from more expressive character performances to environments that feel alive and breathing.”
Alongside 007 First Light, IO Interactive is also working on a number of other games, including the next game in the Hitman series. While IO has not officially announced its next game, the studio’s CEO confirmed that Hitman 4 is “of course going to happen” sometime after the Bond game’s release.
