007 First Light could be a magnificent reinvention of the Bond IP

No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to hide.

By the time IO Interactive releases 007 First Light this spring, 14 years will have passed since the last time a James Bond game graced our consoles and PCs. That game, 007 Legends, was a first-person shooter that accentuated action over espionage. There’s nothing wrong with that approach. After all, it worked for GoldenEye back in 1997. It worked so well, in fact, that it became the blueprint for Bond games going forward.

But imagine if Batman: Arkham Asylum had been just a brawler without detective work, or if Marvel’s Spider-Man had been just a web-slinger without any of the interpersonal drama that defines Peter Parker’s dual identities. 007 First Light aims to be more than a run-and-game action romp—from what I played at a recent preview event, it’s a James Bond total package with action and spycraft in equal measure.

First and foremost, 007 First Light is, as the name suggests, an origin story. It takes place before Bond has acquired his 00 license. That means you won’t be playing as a savvy operator with a license to kill. You’ve got to earn that license, and your reputation, by playing through First Light’s story.

And “story” is the keyword in 007 First Light. As I played, I felt compelled to move forward—not only to find out what would happen next, but by a momentum that drove objectives and encouraged exploration.

The first level, and perhaps the most intense of the three I played, doubles as a tutorial and rescue mission. This level was the most straightforward of the bunch, relying more on your ability to learn the ropes than on open-ended progression a la IO’s Hitman series. Even so, it was exhilarating and satisfying to complete. You can see that Bond has what it takes to survive, and is almost prepared for the harder challenges to come.

Another level never gave me a weapon. I had to figure out how to overcome obstacles (infiltrating spaces, defeating enemies) using the resources available to me. This is where more open-ended gameplay came into the picture. I chose brute force to progress, whereas Greg Burke, head of video at Shacknews, chose cunning and stealth. Both strategies got the job done, but I confess more admiration for his approach. Both approaches shared one thing in common: They were non-lethal, emphasizing that 007 First Light is a game where Bond can’t always mow down enemies to get the job done.

Naturally, gadgets factor into missions as well. They round out Bond’s trifecta of skills: combat, stealth, and spycraft. You can cause distractions with gadgets (or use items found in your environment), enable tech to point out items in your environment such as locks and areas of interest, and more.

Brawling borrows heavily from the seminal Batman: Arkham series. You’ve got basic strikes, of course, but there’s a flow to fighting that encourages special moves such as takedowns. I only skimmed the surface of what’s possible as far as combat, and I left eager to see more.

Besides fun gameplay, 007 First Light packs a punch in the presentation department. Its audiovisuals are stunning to behold; you’ll feel like you’re playing a Bond movie, but with all the accoutrements of a modern video game, alongside decision-making that feels uniquely yours.

007 First Light is less than a month away, and I can’t wait to see what else it has in store for the world’s favorite spy.

This preview comes from hands-on impressions provided at an event held by IO Interactive. The publisher paid for Shacknews’ transportation and hotel accommodations. 007 First Light releases on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows on May 27, 2026; a Nintendo Switch 2 version will follow this summer.

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