Sony’s recent State of Play showcase delivered an unexpected treat for spy-fi aficionados: the very first trailer for 007 First Light, IO Interactive’s hotly anticipated James Bond origin story. Announced quietly back in November 2020 under the working title “Project 007,” the game has been something of a whispered promise among gaming circles for nearly five years. Now, with that promise crystallized into a slick, action-packed trailer, fans can finally see what IOI has been cooking up—namely, a younger, more impulsive Bond breaking into MI6 and learning what it truly means to “earn the number.”
Peering beyond the glossy cinematics, 007 First Light clearly aims to channel a bit of those Uncharted-esque thrills: high-altitude helicopter insertions, rooftop chases, and tense stealth sequences set against sleek, modern locales. The trailer hints at a Bond who hasn’t yet fully honed his legendary composure—think more “loose cannon” than “suave secret agent.” Instead of borrowing moments from any specific Daniel Craig or Sean Connery flick, IOI appears determined to craft an entirely new narrative that feels fresh, even as it nods reverently to Ian Fleming’s original novels and the cinematic lore that followed.
IO Interactive’s pedigree speaks for itself: the Copenhagen-based studio has spent 25 years refining the art of sandbox stealth gameplay with the Hitman trilogy, and it’s clear they want to lean into those strengths here. When Project 007 was first unveiled in late 2020, IOI made no secret of its ambition to combine tight stealth mechanics with big set-piece action—imagine Agent 47’s finesse, but with the flair and flair-ups of a Bond mission. Now branded as 007 First Light, the project has evolved to emphasize narrative depth, promising players an origin story that traces James Bond’s transition from Royal Navy officer to the world’s most lethal intelligence operative.
Platform-wise, IOI’s revealing trailer confirmed that 007 First Light will land on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and—somewhat thrillingly—Nintendo Switch 2. This cross-platform rollout suggests IOI is keen to make Bond’s first foray into gaming’s next generation as universal as possible. On the PlayStation 5, the game will be further boosted by PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), targeting a solid 60 frames-per-second experience in Quality Mode—details that Sony’s blog post made a point of highlighting.
Perhaps even more intriguing is the backdrop against which 007 First Light is being developed. In February 2025, Amazon MGM Studios assumed supervisory duties for the Bond IP after Amazon finalized its acquisition of MGM. This marks the first time a James Bond game has been overseen by Amazon rather than Eon Productions alone—an arrangement that could well influence everything from narrative direction to marketing strategies. Although IOI retains full creative control, having MGM’s full-throated backing (now under the Amazon umbrella) implies substantial resources and potentially deeper integration with future Bond media tie-ins.
IO Interactive is hosting a dedicated IOI Showcase on June 6th at 9 pm ET. During that livestream, expect a deep dive into 007 First Light—likely featuring developer commentary, extended gameplay snippets, and insights into Bond’s earliest steps as a spy. Fans should keep their eyes peeled for discussions about mission structure, stealth gadgetry, and how IOI plans to meld narrative beats with player agency. Given that the initial trailer leaned heavily into cinematic flair, there’s good reason to anticipate a robust look at how those sequences translate into interactive set pieces.
With a scheduled release window of 2026, 007 First Light arrives at an interesting juncture for the franchise. Activision’s last Bond game, 007 Legends, hit shelves in October 2012 before MGM and Eon revoked the license, prompting a nearly seven-year hiatus in video game tie-ins. Now, after that extended gap, IOI is effectively reintroducing Bond to a new generation of gamers—one for whom cinematic espionage has evolved in titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man and The Last of Us. This isn’t just another Bond title; it’s a potential renaissance for spy-adventure gaming, where narrative gravitas and player-driven action can coexist seamlessly.
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