James Bond is making his way back to consoles with “007 First Light”, and for fans of the franchise’s uneven gaming legacy, this could be the comeback we’ve waited decades for.
The game is being developed by IO Interactive — the studio behind the “Hitman” series — and will tell an original origin story for the MI6 superspy.
It’s the first official Bond game in over a decade, and the first time a new actor will portray the character since Daniel Craig’s No Time to Die (2021).
IO says “First Light” isn’t just an adaptation of the films. “We’re not trying to emulate what’s been done in the past, but really trying to propose something fresh that’s specifically for the gaming medium,” franchise director Jonathan Lacaille told RadioTimes.com.
Gameplay will include hand-to-hand combat, espionage, high-speed chases, and a stealth-focused system that rewards improvisation under pressure.
The story opens with the death of Bond’s parents and tracks his recruitment into MI6, culminating in the moment he earns his “license to kill.” It's a younger, more volatile Bond than we’ve seen in past games.
Related: Female Actor Named as Potential Contender for New James Bond
The last time a Bond game truly hit the mark was 1997’s “GoldenEye” (based on the 1995 film of the same name starring Pierce Brosnan as Bond) on the Nintendo 64 — a genre-defining FPS that became a cultural phenomenon.
Since then, there have been highs (“Everything or Nothing”, “Nightfire”) and plenty of lows (“GoldenEye: Rogue Agent”, anyone?). If “First Light” delivers what it promises, it might finally bring Bond gaming back to relevance.
The identity of the new game’s Bond is still being kept under wraps, though fans suspect it's Patrick Gibson (Dexter: Original Sin) based on his appearance in the trailer. Lacaille, however, says the actor will be revealed later this summer.
While the upcoming 007 film reboot — directed by Denis Villeneuve with Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight writing — remains separate from the game, the fact that both projects are being developed under Amazon MGM could signal a more unified future for the character.
For now, all eyes are on “007 First Light”, which is expected to release in 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows, and the Nintendo Switch 2.
Who do you think is playing Bond in the new game? What about the new film? Let us know in the comments!
