Bond is back.
Hitman developer IO Interactive is keeping busy. In addition to a fantasy new IP, the studio is developing 007: First Light, a game previously known for its working title Project 007.
Announced in November 2020, First Light tells an origin story for James Bond. Read on to learn everything we know so far about First Light, including plans for it to potentially kick off a new trilogy.
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When will First Light be released?
First Light in coming in 2026, but a specific release date has not been announced.
Preorder First Light
Preorders for Project 007 are not available yet, but whenever that happens, we’ll report back with a preorder guide.
Who’s playing James Bond?
IO has not confirmed who is playing James Bond in First Light, but fans believe they’ve worked it out, saying they believe Irish actor Patrick Gibson is playing the role. He’s known for his roles in The Tudors, Shadow and Bone, and Tolkien. Most recently, he played a young Dexter Morgan on the Dexter prequel series Original Sin. Indeed, Gibson certainly looks the part. But anything is possible.
First Light trailer and reveal information
The first trailer for 007 First Light debuted during Summer Game Fest, showing off the best look so far at the new James Bond game–take a look.
First Light platforms
First Light is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC.
First Light story, setting, and characters
007 First Light has players stepping into the shoes of James Bond when he’s 26 years old and in the Royal Navy, prior to becoming the British superspy everyone knows today. He gets recruited for MI6 and eventually its elite 00 section.
“Bond’s adventures will take players all around the globe, coming face to face with allies and foes (or in some cases, both), while choosing how they overcome obstacles and challenges, whether it be with brute force, cunning guile, or charming wit,” the game’s press release said.
“We’re pouring our energy and passion for the franchise into creating a cinematic adventure that pushes the boundaries of what a James Bond game can be, while telling a fresh, new story,” the developer said.
The third-person action-adventure game will feature other characters like M, Q, and Moneypenny, as well as a brand-new character created for the game, John Greenway, and a mysterious character named Isola. And of course, IO is promising “a whole new cast of villains.”
IO intends for the game to kick off a new trilogy. CEO Hakan Abrak told IGN that First Light won’t be based on any of the existing Bond movies. Instead, the developer is being allowed to create its own version of James Bond for the game.
“What’s exciting about that project is that we actually got to do an original story,” Abrak said. “So it’s not a gamification of a movie. It’s completely beginning and becoming a story, hopefully for a big trilogy out there in the future. And equally important and exciting, it’s a new Bond. It’s a Bond we built from the ground up for gamers. It’s extremely exciting with all the tradition and all the history there is there together to work on this together with the family of creating a young Bond for gamers; a Bond that the gamers can call their own and grow with.”
Not all shooting
The James Bond movies are known for their over-the-top action, involving a lot of guns and shooting, but First Light won’t be all about shooting.
IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak recently said, “We don’t want to make a game where it’s only about shooting and running.”
He added: “It’s also about delivering that fantasy for a Bond where he can traverse in social spaces and speak to people and figure out in creative ways how to solve the obstacles in front of him. So there’s a lot that we know from from Hitman: World of Assassination that we brought into that, but James Bond is a very different experience than Hitman.”
First Light game engine
First Light is being developed using IO’s proprietary Glacier engine. The company is hiring a multiplayer programmer, and a previously spotted job ad called for someone with multiplayer experience to work on Project 007. This suggests, but doesn’t confirm, that the new James Bond game will have multiplayer.
Who’s developing First Light?
First Light is in “active development” at IO’s offices in Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden.
“Creating an original Bond game is a monumental undertaking and I truly believe that IO Interactive, working closely with our creative partners at EON and MGM, can deliver something extremely special for our players and communities,” Abrak said. “Our passionate team is excited to unleash their creativity into the iconic James Bond universe and craft the most ambitious game in the history of our studio.”
Former MGM boss Robert Marick, meanwhile, said, “We plan to bring a new take on this legendary franchise to gamers and Bond fans around the world. IO Interactive are masters of crafting living, breathing worlds of immersive storytelling.” Marick left MGM after the game was announced.
A James Bond shakeup
A major unanswered question about First Light is whether or not anything about the project changed due to James Bond stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson getting bought out of their ownership, with Amazon MGM Studios taking over all creative decisions.
Broccoli and Wilson had managed the James Bond franchise for almost 60 years, following it being passed down from their father, Cubby Broccoli. The pair have been the driving force behind the entire Bond franchise during that period, including selecting the actors who would play the iconic spy. Their work has extended beyond just the movies, as Broccoli at least has been involved in decision-making for the games; it recently came to light that Broccoli raised a number of concerns about the GoldenEye game for Wii.
What impact the new leadership at Amazon MGM Studios could have on IO’s game is unknown, but GameSpot has contacted the studio in an attempt to get more details. We’ve also reached out to Amazon MGM Studios.
History of James Bond games
A number of companies have made James Bond video games over the years. One of the most memorable and iconic James Bond games was Rare’s 1997 GoldenEye 007 for Nintendo 64. Electronic Arts made James Bond games, too, including Agent Under Fire, Nightfire, and Rogue Agent. Activison took over for a period of time, publishing titles like Quantum of Solace and Blood Stone. There hasn’t been a new James Bond game for console since 2012’s 007 Legends, though Cypher 007 came out for mobile in 2023.
The next James Bond movie
The 26th Bond movie is now in the works, with Harry Potter’s David Heyman and Spider-Man’s Amy Pascal signed on as producers. Amazon MGM Studios will produce the film, but there is no word yet on any of the key details about it, including the biggest question of all: who will play James Bond? Aaron Taylor-Johnson was said to be the front-runner at some point. Also unknown is who may direct the new Bond movie or when it could release.
A Wall Street Journal report from December 2024 said Broccoli and Wilson were sparring with Amazon executives over the future of the series, causing important developments on the project to be delayed. Now that Broccoli and Wilson are out, some are theorizing that Amazon might try to get the ball rolling quickly for Bond 26.
