James Bond Returns: IO Interactive Reveals 007 First Light Coming in 2026

IO Interactive officially announced 007 First Light during Sony’s State of Play presentation, marking the studio’s first James Bond game set for release in 2026. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC through Steam and Epic Games Store.

007 First Light takes players back to James Bond’s early days, featuring the youngest version of the character fans have ever seen. At just 26 years old, this Bond isn’t the smooth, experienced agent from the movies but a Navy air crewman who gets recruited into MI6’s challenging training program after showing exceptional bravery.

The game tells a completely original story created with Amazon MGM Studios. Players will follow Bond as he learns the spy trade, growing from a sometimes reckless recruit into a skilled agent. The story focuses on his training and early missions, showing how he earns his famous 007 status.

While exploring this new take on Bond’s origin, players will meet classic characters like M, Q, and Moneypenny. The game also introduces new characters, including Greenway, Bond’s mentor who tries to teach him proper MI6 methods.

Gameplay and What’s Next

IO Interactive, known for creating the recent Hitman games, promises varied gameplay that mixes different spy activities. Players can choose their approach to missions – going in quietly with stealth and gadgets, or taking a more direct combat approach. The game will also feature driving sequences and visits to various locations around the world, from snowy mountains to tropical beaches.

The game runs on IO Interactive’s Glacier engine, the same technology used in their Hitman series. For PlayStation 5 Pro users, the game will support enhanced features including 60 FPS performance in Quality Mode using PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution.

IO Interactive plans to share more details about gameplay and story later this year. The game is currently available for wishlist on various platforms ahead of its 2026 release. The studio emphasized that this project represents 25 years of experience in game development, making it a significant milestone for the Danish developer.

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