Young James Bond Who Dislikes Tuxedos and Other 007 First Light Details

At the recent State of Play, IO Interactive — the studio best known for the Hitman franchise — showcased the debut gameplay trailer for 007 First Light, the first major James Bond video game in many years. This is the new official title of what was previously known as Project 007, which the studio originally announced back in 2020. Now, five years later, the developers have finally broken their silence to reveal what players can expect.

IO Interactive’s version of Agent 007 is not tied to any of the cinematic Bonds. According to the developers, their goal was to create their own Bond, one that’s closer to his literary counterpart from Ian Fleming’s original novels. The scar on Bond’s face, seen in the trailer and screenshots, is a direct nod to how the character was described in the books.

In an interview with IGN, IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak described the challenging process of creating the perfect digital James Bond:

According to Abrak, the team ultimately found a look they were satisfied with. While the actor voicing Bond hasn’t been officially confirmed, fans have developed a convincing theory that he’s portrayed by Irish actor Patrick Gibson, who played young Dexter Morgan in the series Dexter: Original Sin. The visual resemblance to the new Bond is hard to ignore.

IO Interactive is already planning a full 007 trilogy, with First Light envisioned as the character’s origin story. This isn’t a game about a seasoned superspy — it’s about how James Bond becomes one.

First Light focuses on the transition period after Bond leaves the military and begins working for a covert intelligence agency. According to the developers, Bond starts the story full of optimism and a touch of youthful naivety — qualities he’ll be forced to abandon as he faces the darker realities of espionage. By the end of the game, players will witness Bond’s transformation into the iconic agent who’s at ease in a tuxedo and prefers his signature martini-based cocktail.

Given IO Interactive’s portfolio, they’re arguably the perfect studio to tackle a Bond video game. Their previous spy thrillers featuring Agent 47 already offered much of the same experience players expect from a James Bond adventure. So it’s no surprise that many ideas, mechanics, and design choices from Hitman World of Assassination form the gameplay foundation of 007 First Light.

Like Hitman, the levels in 007 First Light are large interactive sandboxes offering numerous ways to complete missions — through stealth, direct combat, or clever tricks like disguises. Players will engage in familiar spy tasks: scouting environments, tracking patrol routes, and finding ways into secure areas. Enemies react intelligently, adapting to player actions and working together.

However, Bond will have even more freedom than Agent 47. For one, direct combat is a viable mission strategy in 007 First Light, unlike Hitman, where open gunfights often mean mission failure. And let’s not forget Bond’s futuristic gadgets — like laser-equipped watches — which will add even more variety to the gameplay.

While stealth and spy tactics are vital, they’re only one side of the Bond experience. The other crucial component is adrenaline-fueled action. The developers are fully aware of this and promise that 007 First Light will also deliver thrilling cinematic moments. Expect high-octane car chases and a refined combat system that allows seamless transitions between gunplay and hand-to-hand fighting.

What’s most promising is how clearly passionate the developers are about the Bond universe — and how determined they are to win over fans. IO seems to understand exactly what resonates with Bond lovers, from iconic visual motifs to familiar story tropes. There will be plenty of references, but according to the developers, they’ll often be delivered with a twist to keep things fresh. Here’s what lead artist Rasmus Poulsen had to say in an interview:

That’s all for now. More news about the project — including a full gameplay showcase — will likely come at gamescom in August. 007 First Light is set to release next year for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

What did you think of the first trailer and game details? Are you a fan of the Bond books or films? Let us know in the comments.