007: First Light - 14 New Things We Just Learned About The James Bond Game

By Darryn Bonthuys on September 3, 2025 at 12:20PM PDT

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The next big James Bond adventure is headed to your TV (or monitor, or handheld) in 2026, as Hitman developer IO Interactive is putting its own spin on the iconic secret agent. Details on 007: First Light were hard to come by for several years after IO first announced that it was creating its own original Bond game, but recently, we’ve gotten a closer look at the game and its leading man. In today’s PlayStation State of Play event, IO Interactive shared more information on the game and how it’ll play, and in case you missed it, you can take a closer look at everything that was revealed here in the gallery below.

007: First Light has a release date

007: First Light preorder bonuses

If you’re planning to pick the game up on PS5, preorders will net you the following goodies:

24 hours early access
Four exclusive outfits
New weapon skin
Gleaming Skin Pack gadgets

007 continues the Bond sponsorship tradition

Chasing 009

It looks like a 00 agent has gone rogue–not the first time that this has happened, if you remember GoldenEye–and Bond has been assigned to spy on agent 009. The MI6 operative is currently located at a swanky Slovakian hotel resort that is hosting a high-stakes chess tournament, and Bond decides to disobey orders so that he can get closer to his target.

Bond is–naturally–a smooth talker

One of the interesting things that players can do when they’re exploring levels is attempt to smooth-talk his way past suspicious security. This won’t work on everyone that Bond encounters, but gullible guards can be fooled by his swagger.

Follow your instincts

When Bond finds himself in a tricky spot, he can use his Instinct ability to slow down time during a firefight, perform a silent takedown, or bluff his way past security. The catch here is that Instinct is a limited resource, so you’ll have to carefully manage it.

Now pay attention, 007

MI6 quartermaster Q has plenty of gadgets for Bond–and he better pay attention during the briefing on them. The gameplay demo showed off several of these, including a dart phone that can make a target feel ill, smoke pods that can blanket a room in a gas that obscures Bond, and a laser that can cut through a locked door. These don’t just work during spying sections either, as these tools can be used in combat to give Bond an edge. As you progress through the game, the rookie agent will unlock more gadgets to use on missions.

Gadgets do require energy to be used, but you can recharge them by finding batteries while you explore levels.

The spy who eavesdropped on me

Bond is at his best when he goes unnoticed, as he can eavesdrop on conversations for intelligence, pinch items from inattentive guards, and piece together clues to gain more intel. Every detail counts, and each level will provide multiple options for completing Bond’s objectives.

Knocking the living daylights out of enemies

Let’s face it: All the charm and gadgets in the world aren’t enough to prevent Bond from getting into a fight. Fortunately, he’s a skilled brawler and he can easily clear a room of enemies when pushed into a corner. Combat looks brutal in 007: First Light, as Bond can hurl an opponent over a railing, smash them against a wall, disarm them, and use nearby objects to knock them out. Players will have several skills at their disposal, like parries, throws, and takedowns that are designed to look cinematic when properly executed.

License to thrill

When Bond enters a firefight, his License to Kill will be activated and he can permanently remove combatants from a fight. Bond isn’t limited to his sidearm either, as he can also pick up weapons from enemies and use them to his advantage. And when he runs out of bullets? He can use the gun itself as a projectile weapon.

Drive to survive

Another key pillar of the James Bond experience is the driving, and the gameplay demo showed off 007 behind the wheel in a chase sequence. IO Interactive says it wanted to create action-packed moments here, accurately reflecting Bond’s world.

Freedom Fighters forever

Briefly spotted in the gameplay preview was an arcade, with one of the cabinets being dedicated to IO Interactive’s 2003 action game Freedom Fighters.

Patrick Gibson is Bond

Who’s the next James Bond? While the search for his next live-action actor continues, we do know that his video game incarnation will be played by actor Patrick Gibson.

Bond will be joined by familiar faces

The rest of 007: First Light’s cast was also revealed, confirming that several iconic characters like Q, M, and Moneypenny will be present in the game. Other characters include Bond’s mentor John Greenway and Noemie Nakai as the mysterious Miss Roth.