Ever since it was first announced as ‘Project 007’ way back in 2020, IO Interactive’s long-awaited James Bond game was finally revealed as 007 First Light during PlayStation’s June 2025 State of Play. Back then, we mostly got a trailer that showcased cinematic scenes, but now, we’re treated to a new State of Play dedicated wholly to the game that aired just last night.
The half-hour livestream features a playthrough of one mission, where Bond chases a rogue agent named 009, and another mission with commentary from the game’s director, Hakan Abrak, where he takes an in-depth look at some of the game’s mechanics. Watch it here:
The first mission shown depicts three distinct gameplay sections. The stealth section might be familiar to fans of IO Interactive’s Hitman games, with mechanics including distracting NPCs and non-lethal takedowns. Other features including listening in on conversations to gain clues, as well as dialogue choices when talking to NPCs. Like Hitman, there are also multiple ways to achieve an objective, and this includes a complete melee fighting system if you do get spotted.
Don’t expect 007 First Light to keep to Hitman’s slower pace, though, as what follows is a car chase section (featuring an Aston Martin). The last gameplay section sees turns First Light into a full-on third-person shooter, as Bond takes on henchman after henchman while attempting to infiltrate a plane taking off. It’s in these big set pieces where the game does struggle quite a bit, though, so it seems that IO Interactive still has some kinks to iron out yet.
The game segments the moments when you’re supposed to employ deadly force and when you’re meant to play it stealthy. The ‘License to Kill’ mechanic denotes when these high octane sections begin, and appears when an enemy attempts to take you down with lethal force first. It doesn’t necessarily have to purely be a shooter, though, as destructible environmental objects and stealth gadgets you get from Q can also be used in combat. There’s also a ‘Focus’ feature that slows down time.
Lastly, we’re also told that 007 First Light will release on 27 March 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. The base game will cost US$69.99 while the Deluxe Edition will cost US$79.99, but pre-orders of the game come with 24-hour early access as well as a free Deluxe Edition Upgrade (with outfits and skins).
In addition, there’s the Specialist Edition that’s available exclusively on Amazon, and the Legacy Edition, a US$299.99 package that consists of the base game, the Deluxe Edition, more skins and a real, physical Golden Gun figurine with a stand and secret compartment, complete with a steel case.
