James Bond has been an iconic part of pop culture for decades. The gaming community has been part of this history, with multiple 007-themed games coming out over the years. One of those games, 007 Goldeneye, was released in 1997 for Nintendo 64, and is considered one of the best games of that era, one of the best movie adaptation games, and is credited for the development of the FPS genre we know today. It mastered both single-player mode and multiplayer mode, the latter of which is what future games most tried to replicate. Now, fans will be treated to yet another 007 adventure, coming in 2026.
James Bond: First Light Brings New Origin Story
Screenshot of James Bond First Light, courtesy of the State of Play stream.
James Bond: First Light is a brand new story that will take a new approach to 007, by detailing a reimagined version of his origin story. The third-person action adventure game is being developed by IO Interactive, which is also the studio behind Hitman. What events led Bond down the path of becoming an infamous M16 agent, leading him to become the world’s most famous spy? This new game will give fans all-new, standalone answers.
James Bond: First Light developers give fans a bit more background on what to expect with the new game through a blog post released after the State of Play.
This is Bond as you’ve never seen him before — the youngest Bond fans have ever met. In 007 First Light, at only 26 years old, he isn’t the fully fledged 007 you know from the tux-and-martini days but a man with sharp instincts, sometimes reckless, who is still learning when to fight, when to bluff, and when to disappear into the shadows.
In 007 First Light, Bond starts as a NAVY air crewman, when against all odds, an audacious act of bravery propels him on MI6’s most challenging training program. This training coupled with his natural instinct, wits, and heart will see him grow into a fully-fledged spy. It’s a completely original standalone story, developed in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios.
The trailer gives you a taste of what’s to come: you’ll be able to travel the world and discover exciting locations, from snow-drenched mountains to sun-soaked beaches. You will, of course, get to meet and interact with some of the characters who have become synonymous with the James Bond franchise, such as M, Q, and Moneypenny.
You will also discover new ones, including Greenway, Bond’s mentor in this story, who will teach him the modus operandi advocated for MI6 agents (or at least try to!). With varied gameplay mixing intense combat, full throttle driving, stealth, and cutting-edge gadgets. You’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in a world filled with deception and danger, powered by our proprietary engine, Glacier.
The full trailer, first released on PlayStation’s June 4 State of Play stream, can be found below.
Final Thoughts
James Bond has taken over our movie and television screens for decades, with generations of viewers falling in love with the iconic spy. First Light will provide new generations with an entirely new gaming experience, getting to see 007 as a character before he rose to the fame and success we all know. The game does not have a set release date yet, but it will be coming to PS5 in 2026, with future announcements to come.
Khris is the Gaming Site Manager for Total Apex Media, and a contributor to multiple other pages. He gives insight across many genres, particularly Gaming, Entertainment, News, and Sports. He is an avid gamer and serves as a moderator for online gaming servers. He has previously written as a fan for sports blogs on SBNation, including Over The Monster and McCovey Chronicles, giving his proposals and opinions on the direction of the teams. He is also a contributor at FanSided's Surviving Tribal, where he considers himself a reality TV superfan, and at Stadium Rant, specialising in the MLB. In his spare time, Khris enjoys camping and hiking in nature, taking nature photography, playing board games and video games, and both playing and watching sports; he also considers himself an ace mini-golfer.
