The Nintendo Switch 2 version of IO Interactive’s James Bond game 007: First Light has been delayed indefinitely just weeks before launch.
As the game prepares to its May 27, 2026 release date on PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series, IO Interactive has pushed the Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game to an unannounced laater date.
Focusing on a younger Bond with “modern values”, the new James Bond title is a mix of Hitman’s social stealth and traditional action set-pieces. In fact, the game even features high-speed car chase scenes which aim to push the studio’s Glacier Engine to its limits.
In prior showings, 007: First Light has shown some rather rough performance on all platforms with the game also receiving revised PC hardware specs as well. All of this had led to some worry for the game’s Nintendo Switch 2 version, especially since the system’s port of Hitman: World of Assassination was already prone to some wonky performance.
Despite the delay to “later this summer”, IO has been keen not to use the term delay to describe the pushed back release of the Nintendo Switch 2 version of its game. “We’re excited to see players discovering James Bond’s reimagined origin story, and we are looking forward to bringing you the best game experience possible across all platforms,” the studio said in a press release.
With the Nintendo Switch 2 able to run games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Resident Evil Requiem, and Star Wars Outlaws, 007: First Light does seem possible on Nintendo’s handheld. However, considering the CPU-intense nature of IO’s simulation-based stealth gameplay, it seems that the handheld version simply requires some more time in the oven.
Following the game’s launch, 007: First Light is also expected to evolve with new content, similar to the post-launch structure of Hitman. Additionally, as a Coke Ambassador, players of the new James Bond game will also be able to unlock unique goodies via a Coca-Cola brand partnership which launches alongside the game.
Right now, IO has not confirmed its post-launch plans for the James Bond game, although it does seem that additional missions will be added to the game. Additionally, it’s not known how long the game will be supported for, especially as the studio looks towards the development of Hitman 4 in the future.
