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Having honed a particular formula to a whole other level when it comes to stealth and sandbox gameplay, IO Interactive‘s announcement of a new game starring James Bond in 007 First Light back in June definitely piqued plenty of interest. What would a superspy known for his charm, occasional brashness, and particular set of skills bring to the table that can iterate on a proven gameplay loop?
Thankfully, I was able to find out at Gamescom 2025 via a closed-door preview, where a pristine and classic Aston Martin constantly drew attention from the passing crowd. After passing through reception and into a theatre setup, it was time to take in the gameplay of 007 First Light for the very first time.
A Young Bond With New Gameplay DNA
It all starts with Bond’s first-ever mission with his fellow spies, hunting down the rogue 009. But instead of being the star of the show, our hero is relegated to being a watchout while masquerading as a chauffeur. The young and inexperienced Bond is definitely quippier than usual, and it doesn’t take long before he’s disobeying orders and making a beeline for trouble.
That means distracting the guards by any means necessary, using the environment to his advantage, causing a water leak and starting a small fire to draw attention, before climbing into the secure villa. A contemporary setting meant it was possible to play with “a variety of gadgets” to “keep things fresh and fun”, and there is potential for players to discover and experiment as they progress. It is undeniably Hitman-esque, and that’s not a bad thing. The way IOI has gone about putting together sandboxes of multiple solutions means that there is always freedom in going about things, and this is just one way players can progress in any given level in 007 First Light.
It would have been easy to use this character as he has always been portrayed, but going with his origin story was a purposeful choice by the team at IO Interactive
“We felt that it was a really great creative vehicle to tell a story that hasn’t been told before. There’s, of course, a very wide array of source material to draw inspiration from. But we knew we didn’t want to just do a retelling of something that’s been done before, and therefore deciding to take it back even further, even younger than you may have seen before, meant that we get to explore that space,” said Theuns Smit, senior licensing producer at IO Interactive. “We get to see Bond before he enters MI6, before he is dubbed double O, and really ushering in a new chapter for Bond and gaming. “
After this showcase of how level design paves the way for flexibility and fun, we transition into a car chase sequence that the team felt was quintessential to the Bond experience in 007 First Light. The action was intense and smooth, throwing enough explosions and high-risk manoeuvres to keep you on the edge of your seat. And fans can expect more, as Smit emphasised that going from location to location in different missions will involve getting behind the wheel, and things will not always be peaceful.
Action-Packed
And the combat definitely feels much more involved, as once you are given the license to kill, players can be much more aggressive than Agent 47. Shooting feels tight, and there is nuance to the underlying system as well. Shooting an enemy’s weapon can disarm them. At the same time, melee finishers take into account the surroundings, resulting in unique moments where you get to see the flashier side of the young superspy.
While shooting your way out usually meant that you had somewhat failed as a hitman, it’s different in 007 First Light. It’s a crucial part of being the hero, and IOI is well aware of that. It all feeds into what the team wants for the entire adventure, one with legs that can fulfil the different aspects of being a promising agent of a covert organisation with the skills to match.
“With our previous games, it could be a bit more slow-paced, methodical, stealth-focused. That is a part of the world of espionage and the world of spies. But James Bond is such a personality, and he’s a fast-thinking, smooth talker. We wanted to translate that element of his personality into the gameplay as well,” Smit said.
“We wanted to focus a lot on kinetic energy, a lot of forward momentum, lean into Bond and his improvisation that you see, using his environment around him, taking out enemies, fluid movement, picking up weapons, grabbing it, shooting it, continuing, throwing the gun when it’s empty. So all of that has opened up very many fun gameplay loops for us to go into.”
Familiar Yet Fresh
There is a linearity to things, however, with the flow described as “a breathing gameplay style” to reflect the ups and downs that come with the action. Being more narrow and focused helps the team tell a specific story, as does a set piece for more involved play. Then, at other times, things will open up and players can get more creative. 007 First Light is “about giving the player the choice in the open spaces” and then “narrow in again to move things forward”.
It will undoubtedly feel familiar to the modern Hitman series, but that familiarity is not a bad thing. A strong foundation can lead to many places, as IOI has proven over the years, and the hope is it can do the same for a beloved character and franchise once more. There’s much more to see from 007 First Light, especially the growth of Bond as a character and other gameplay mechanics, but for a start, it has definitely been a view to kill.
007 First Light will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 on March 27, 2026.
