007 First Light is a cinematic action-stealth adventure developed by IO Interactive, putting players in the role of a young James Bond at the start of his career in MI6.
Debuted at Gamescom 2025, the game will launch in 2026 for all major plattforms PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, offering an original origin story and immersive spy action across globe-trotting missions
Setting and Gameplay Overview
Players experience Bond’s ascent from a rebellious recruit to elite agent, navigating semi-open world hubs packed with highly scripted espionage set-pieces. Bond must use stealth, deception, and gadgets to infiltrate enemy strongholds, with level designs echoing Hitman-style logic but funneled toward tightly constructed cinematic moments. Scenes often shift rapidly from stealth infiltration to explosive gunfights, where players engage in a cover-based shooter system — accompanied by over-the-top action reminiscent of early Call of Duty titles. Car chase sections play out on fixed rails, with banded AI and dynamic events shaping each pursuit for maximum spectacle, blending interactive film and classic Bond thrills.
Visuals and Atmosphere
007 First Light leverages IO Interactive’s latest Glacier engine for detailed NPCs, luxurious environments, and cinematic camerawork. The game blurs the lines between gameplay and cutscenes, combining action set pieces with Bond’s signature style and wit.
Features
Stealth Gameplay: Sneak, disguise, and use social engineering in constructed sandbox environments — but most encounters build toward action, with opportunities for dramatic melee takedowns and creative kills using the environment.
Scripted Cinematics: Missions unfold like interactive blockbusters; explosions, escapes, and chase sequences are orchestrated for a relentless pace.
Cover-Based Shooting: Gunplay focuses on cinematic shootouts with auto-aim support, high-impact explosions, and seamless transitions between stealth and action.
Vehicle Sequences: High-speed pursuits play out along predetermined paths, loaded with dynamic hazards and AI rival agents, focusing on excitement over realism.
Semi-Open World Hubs: Larger environments connect the narrative, offering freedom of approach but directing players through crafted scenarios for maximum drama.
Gadgets & Interactivity: Use Q’s latest tech — drones, laser watches, sensory gear — to solve puzzles, infiltrate, and improvise creative solutions during missions
Gamescom impressions
The Gamescom showcase revealed an action-packed Bond origin adventure, heavy on scripted thrills and playful espionage. With stealth systems, explosive shootouts, interactive chases, and highly constructed mission moments, 007 First Light promises fans a fast, stylish, and cleverly orchestrated blockbuster experience.
In addition to the official features, the hands-off demo impressions reveal more about the unique gameplay flow and design philosophy behind 007 First Light. Stealth sections closely resemble the Hitman series, with players sneaking or disguising themselves in tightly constructed, almost puzzle-like scenarios that guide the experience rather than offering open-ended freedom. Vehicle chase sequences are executed on fixed rails, with elaborate set pieces, dramatic camera angles, and AI rubber-banding to ensure cinematic excitement—making these moments feel more like interactive films than traditional gameplay.
Action set pieces push the spectacle even further: combat revolves around a cover-based shooter system with oversized explosions, intense scripted firefights, and brutal melee finishers, including opportunities for creative environmental kills. Overall, the game operates within highly scripted, over-the-top mission structures akin to the bombastic style of earlier Call of Duty campaigns, combining the best elements of interactive espionage, action, and cinematic storytelling into one polished Bond adventure
Release & Platforms:
007 First Light will be out on 27th march 2026 for PC, PS5 and Xbox.
Walkthrough:
The first 30 Minutes of this footage are pretty much what was showcased at our gamescom appointment.
Further Information:
Official Website
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Instagram
Steam
Xbox
Playstation
