IO Interactive Blends 007 James Bond Origins With Hitman DNA
007 First Light aims to be IO Interactive’s most ambitious project since Hitman 3. But let’s be clear—this is not a complete reinvention of the stealth-action formula. This is Hitman meets Uncharted, dipped in British charm and refined through Bond’s early years as a newly minted MI6 agent.
Gameplay showcased during the latest State of Play video confirmed what early insiders suspected: a young, brash Bond on his first missions, still rough around the edges. His movements are fluid, his one-liners sharp, but he’s not the unshakable spy yet. That comes later.
Stealth, Choice, and Gadgets: A Familiar but Bond-Appropriate System
Like the World of Assassination trilogy, First Light prioritizes player freedom. You’re not locked into one approach. Each mission can be completed with:
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Full stealth via distraction gadgets and sabotage,
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Social manipulation—persuasion, bluffing, seduction,
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Or direct confrontation with lethal or non-lethal force.
Levels are semi-open, featuring sandbox-style design where environmental interactions matter. A spilled drink may distract a guard. A chandelier may be cut down to cause a diversion. Pair that with a toolkit including spy gadgets like EMP pens, signal jammers, and camera scramblers, and you have something that feels like Bond—if not mechanically original.
The Car Chase Factor: More Uncharted Than Hitman
Where First Light starts to separate itself is during action sequences—especially vehicle chases. Unlike Hitman’s static design, 007 dives into full-blown cinematic moments.
The car chase gameplay shown at State of Play evoked direct memories of Uncharted 4:
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Exploding barrels, collapsing bridges, dynamic terrain shifts.
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High-speed pursuit with real-time camera angles.
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Bond’s iconic car isn’t just aesthetic—it plays a major gameplay role.
Whether these vehicle segments are only scripted set-pieces or allow player freedom mid-mission is still unclear. But the world is clearly designed around them. And that’s a Bond signature finally done justice in a game.
Bond’s Early Career: Building Toward the Legend
The story centers on Bond’s recruitment into MI6 and the early years of his transformation into 007. Expect full introductions to core characters like:
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M – your commanding officer
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Q – your gadget handler
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Moneypenny – your first contact
You’ll witness Bond earning his license to kill, and that unlocks more aggressive gameplay options and alternate endings. IO says this is the first of a planned trilogy, so character arcs will span multiple entries.
Collector’s Edition: Premium Price, Premium Package
For $300, 007 First Light is launching with a Collector’s Edition that is as bold as its price. It includes:
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Life-sized replica of the Golden Gun,
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SteelBook case,
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Digital content pack with exclusive gadgets and outfits,
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Leather-bound MI6 dossier notebook,
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Original soundtrack,
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And other physical MI6 artifacts.
This is clearly designed for hardcore collectors, and it’s already live for pre-order on Amazon. Pricey, yes—but at least it’s not digital-only fluff.
Switch 2 and the Game Key Card Problem
Yes, 007 First Light is coming to Switch 2.
No, it’s not coming with a physical cartridge.
Instead, it’s launching in Game Key Card format.
At RetroPalmetto, our stance is simple:
Game Key Card = Instant No.
If you’re looking to physically own your games, the Switch version simply isn’t the way to go. Pick up the PS5 or Xbox editions instead.
007 First Light has all the ingredients of a great Bond game: espionage, style, cinematic flair, and moment-to-moment tension. But it also feels heavily indebted to IO’s prior work. That’s not a bad thing—but it leaves us wondering how far the franchise will evolve in future entries.
Pros: Bond-style gadgets and espionage tools, dynamic vehicle chases that break up the stealth loop, gorgeous levels with multiple completion routes, replayable, sandbox-driven mission design, and a Collector’s Edition that is premium but packed.
Cons: Feels too close to Hitman at times, NPC behavior still stiff in early builds, and no physical Switch 2 cartridge is a major letdown.
007 First Light will be released on March 27th, 2026 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Switch 2
