When IO Interactive unveiled its James Bond prequel 007: First Light during the September 3rd, 2025 State of Play, fans finally got a substantial dose of what makes this origin story unique. With over 30 minutes of gameplay, the studio showed off stealth, espionage, and Bond’s early days at MI6, including his first mission as a recruit.

Birth of a Young Bond

In First Light, we play as a 26-year-old James Bond, not yet “00,” as he transitions from Royal Navy life into the shadowy world of MI6. The plot centers around a mission that, if successful, will earn him his “license to kill.” Along the way, players meet younger versions of familiar characters (M, Q, and Miss Moneypenny), all redesigned to reflect their roles in shaping this new Bond’s early career.

Gameplay, Style & Stealth

IOI leaned into the stealth-heavy formula that many fans will recognize from the Hitman games. In gameplay segments shown, Bond infiltrates lavish parties, blends into crowds, pulls off stealth takedowns, and also engages in more explosive, action set-pieces. Car chases are full throttle; gunfights and environmental variety, big parts of the spectacle. But the studio emphasized player choice: whether to sneak through or go full action.

There have been concerns among the fanbase that First Light might amount to just a Hitman reskin. Same routines, similar stealth with cosmetic tweaks. IO Interactive pushed back, saying they built First Light from the ground up with its own narrative identity and gameplay elements tied to the Bond lore.

The game is set to launch on March 27th, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-orders are open, with several editions available (Standard, Specialist, and a deluxe Legacy edition) that offer bonus content like outfit skins, weapon cosmetics, early access, and collector-style physical items for those interested.

For fans of cinematic stealth and espionage, First Light seems positioned to balance the finesse of infiltration with the thrill of classic Bond action. It’s IO Interactive’s chance to prove that licensed games can be ambitious — telling original stories, offering player choice, and delivering scale.

If 007: First Light succeeds, it might open up new paths for Bond games, possibly even a trilogy covering different years or phases of Bond’s early life, as the developer has hinted.