Earlier today, we got the latest PlayStation State of Play from Sony—this one dedicated to IO Interactive’s upcoming spy thriller 007 First Light and its first gameplay showing. During the State of Play, IO Interactive also revealed the release date for 007 First Light as March 27th, 2026, and after what was shown today, I can’t wait to get my hands on the game!
You can watch the PlayStation State of Play for yourself below:
In this gameplay premiere, it was nice to see a full mission playthrough with no commentary or unnecessary distractions. Being developed by the studio behind the HITMAN franchise means that the gameplay of 007 First Light shares a lot of DNA with IO Interactive’s World of Assassination.
Just look at the way Bond walks, or certain aspects of the game’s UX—such as button prompts—and they appear almost identical to those found in the more recent HITMAN trilogy. This isn’t something that bothers me, but it was immediately noticeable and initially left me with concerns. Was 007 First Light just going to be a reskinned version of HITMAN? The answer became much clearer as gameplay continued… no, 007 First Light is aiming to do its own thing and have a unique identity. Towards the end of the mission playthrough, this became even more obvious with a car chase sequence, lots of gunplay, explosions, cinematic set-pieces, and more.
One thing that long-time IO Interactive fans might pick up on is what seems to be massively improved gunplay and pace of movement in action present here in 007 First Light compared to the HITMAN series.
The Cast Of 007 First Light
After we saw the uninterrupted mission playthrough, we got official confirmation for several cast members of 007 First Light, including the reveal of Patrick Gibson as James Bond himself. Here’s the full list of revealed cast members:
- Patrick Gibson as James Bond
- Lennie James as Bond’s mentor, John Greenway
- Noémie Nakai as Miss Roth
- Priyanga Burford as M
- Alastair Mackenzie as Q
- Kiera Lester as Miss Moneypenny
After this cast reveal, we were treated to additional gameplay details, talking about the melee close-quarters combat as well as explaining gadgets and how they work. Personally, I’m very excited to see that the game will give you multiple tools to navigate through your missions. You have a license to kill, but that doesn’t mean you’ll need to use it.
Once the PlayStation State of Play concluded, IO Interactive released additional information and some comments about 007 First Light.
Here’s what Game Director and CEO of IO Interactive Hakan Abrak had to say:
“With 007 First Light, we’re building a wholly original James Bond experience from the ground up, one that blends the sharp tension of espionage with the bold spectacle the franchise is known for,” said Hakan Abrak, CEO of IO Interactive. “The gameplay is rooted in our signature approach to immersive design, combining stealth, action, and creativity in a way that feels uniquely tailored to Bond.”
007 First Light will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC for $69.99 / €69.99 / £59.99. Players who pre-order any edition of 007 First Light will get upgraded to the 007 First Light – Deluxe Edition for free.
The Deluxe Edition Upgrade includes 24-hour early access, four item skins (the Gleaming Lighter, the Gleaming Earphones, the Gleaming Phone, and the Gleaming Pen), an exclusive weapon skin, as well as four outfits: Day of the Dead, Desert Explorer, Silent Anchor, and Gentleman Operator. The Deluxe Edition will be available at launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC for $79.99 / €79.99 / £69.99.
A collector’s edition titled 007 First Light – Legacy Edition will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC for $299.99 / €299.99 / £259.99. It includes the full game, the Deluxe Edition content, an exclusive Golden Gun weapon skin, the Obsidian Gold Suit outfit, a Golden Gun figurine with stand and secret compartment, a certificate of authenticity, and a steel case with a magnet.
It looks beautiful and I want it!
Sources: PlayStation State Of Play Presentation & IO Interactive Press Release
