007 First Light is one of the most eagerly awaited games of a generation — the triumphant return of James Bond to video games after a 14-year absence, developed by IO Interactive, the award-winning Copenhagen studio behind the acclaimed Hitman: World of Assassination trilogy. Launching May 27, 2026, 007 First Light has already stunned critics worldwide with a Metacritic score of 88 and an OpenCritic score of 89–90, making it the best-reviewed Bond game since the legendary GoldenEye 007 in 1997 — and one of the year's finest action games.

This is James Bond as you have never seen him before. Younger, rawer, and more dangerous than the polished tux-and-martini icon of the films, this Bond — performed through voice and full motion capture by rising Irish star Patrick Gibson — is a 26-year-old Naval air crewman whose breathtaking act of bravery propels him into the newly revived MI6 Double-O program. Developed in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios, 007 First Light tells a wholly original story — not an adaptation of any Fleming novel — giving IO Interactive the creative freedom to build the definitive Bond origin story on their own terms.

The simplest way to describe 007 First Light is Hitman meets Uncharted — a cinematic, story-driven adventure that combines the social stealth mastery IO Interactive pioneered in Hitman with the explosive, globe-trotting set pieces and blockbuster presentation of Naughty Dog's Uncharted series. The result, according to critics, is "a real frontrunner for 2026's Game of the Year" and "an exquisite taste of slick spy action and blockbuster storytelling, fully what a Bond game should be, but rarely is."

The Story – A Hero Forged in Fire and Deception

James Bond is not yet 007. He is not yet the suave, all-knowing agent of legend. He is James Bond at 26 — brilliant, instinctive, sometimes reckless, and utterly without the world-weariness that comes with decades of double-crossing and close escapes. That is exactly what makes this story electric.

After a moment of audacious heroism as a Royal Navy air crewman, Bond is recruited into MI6's newly revived Double-O program — a shadow unit of agents licensed to kill. But when a mission to intercept a rogue agent ends in tragedy, Bond is plunged into a conspiracy far deeper than anyone anticipated. His target: Agent 009, the very kind of Double-O operative Bond is being trained to become — experienced, dangerous, and seemingly always one step ahead.

Alongside him stands Greenway (played by The Walking Dead's Lennie James) — his reluctant, world-weary mentor who sees Bond's brilliance but deeply distrusts his recklessness. The relationship between these two men — teacher and student, cynic and idealist — forms the emotional backbone of a story that involves global intrigue, shocking betrayals, political coups, and one of Bond's most terrifyingly unique villains to date: Bawma, brought to life by rock legend Lenny Kravitz, who helped design the character's personality from the ground up.

In the best tradition of Bond fiction, Bawma functions as a dark mirror to Bond himself — representing not who Bond is, but who he could become if the wrong choices were made at the wrong moments.

A Star-Studded Cast

007 First Light brings together an exceptional ensemble of screen talent:

Key Features

The Creative Approach – Spy Your Way

• 007 First Light's defining design philosophy: every mission can be tackled with three distinct playstyle approaches — and mixing them freely is not just permitted, it is encouraged by every encounter's design

• Stealth / Spycraft: Move unseen, eavesdrop on conversations for intelligence, pickpocket keycards from distracted guards, analyze environmental details to uncover hidden shortcuts — all the quiet artistry of espionage

• Action / Combat: Go loud with Bond's combat proficiency — fist-fights, firearms, explosive gadgets, and the kind of high-caliber firefight set pieces that have defined Bond cinema for six decades

• Instinct / Social Engineering: Use Bond's natural charm and quick thinking to bluff past security, talk your way into restricted areas, and turn unexpected situations into opportunities — a mechanic that captures Bond's wit as a genuine gameplay resource

Globe-Trotting Missions Across Stunning Locations

• Travel to some of the world's most visually spectacular environments across approximately 15 main missions — from a high-stakes chess tournament in an ancient Slovakian castle to a lavish gala infiltration in Kensington, London, high-altitude mountain showdowns, sun-soaked coastal resorts, and more

• Every location is realized with Glacier Engine's cinematic lighting, fully dynamic global illumination, ray tracing, and a brand-new volumetric smoke system — pushing visual fidelity to match and exceed the spectacle of the Bond film series

• Missions are designed as immersive sandboxes with multiple entry points, routes, and encounter solutions — ensuring no two players experience the same mission identically

Iconic Vehicles and Bond Gadgets

• Drive iconic vehicles at high speed in set-piece sequences and open chase missions — including a thrilling car chase in Kensington alongside character Miss Roth

• Pilot boats in high-octane waterway pursuits and navigate aerial mission sequences that leverage Bond's Naval background

• Deploy cutting-edge spy gadgets — dart guns, earphones, lighters, and specialized tools — that serve both as combat equipment and stealth infiltration aids, each with unique cosmetic skins available through the Deluxe Edition

• All four gadget slots have dedicated Gleaming Pack cosmetic skins for Deluxe Edition players: Gleaming Lighter, Gleaming Earphones, Gleaming Dart Gun, and Gleaming Pen

Tactical Simulator (TacSim) Mode – Endless Replayability

• Beyond the cinematic 20-hour main campaign, TacSim Mode is a dedicated extra gameplay mode drawing DNA from IO Interactive's Hitman sandbox design

• Replay favorite missions from the campaign with additional gear loadouts, bonus cosmetic outfits, special modifiers, and challenge conditions — transforming the linear story missions into flexible tactical playgrounds

• Leaderboards let you compete with the global community for fastest times and highest scores across TacSim challenges — the mode designed for players who want hundreds of hours beyond the story

• Offline campaign play is available without an internet connection; online features including leaderboards, TacSim challenges, and community events require connectivity

PS5 DualSense Integration

• Adaptive Triggers: Deliver precise, variable resistance during gunfights — each weapon's trigger pull feels mechanically distinct, adding authentic weight to every firearm choice

• Haptic Feedback: Explosive set pieces, vehicle collisions, and close-quarters combat are physically communicated through the DualSense, placing you in the center of the action

• PS5 Pro Enhanced: Utilizes PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) for sharper, cleaner visuals — 60 FPS in Quality Mode on PS5 Pro with enhanced resolution and improved graphical fidelity

• Base PS5 offers a Quality Mode (30 FPS) and Performance Mode (60 FPS) for flexible play preferences

Glacier Engine — Built by IO Interactive, Refined for Bond

• 007 First Light runs on IO Interactive's own proprietary Glacier Engine — the same engine foundation that powered Hitman: World of Assassination, now heavily upgraded for Third-Person storytelling

• Features ray tracing, fully dynamic global illumination, a brand-new volumetric smoke system, and cinematic depth-of-field to create the visual grammar of Bond cinema in interactive form

• PC players benefit from NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, Dynamic Multi Frame Generation, Super Resolution, Path Tracing, and DLSS Ray Reconstruction for the most technically advanced version of the game

Limited Edition DualSense Controller

IO Interactive and Sony have created a stunning 007 First Light Limited Edition DualSense Wireless Controller, launching alongside the game on May 27, 2026:

• Elegant design inspired by Bond's world — refined, sleek, and built for agents

• Full DualSense functionality including adaptive triggers and haptic feedback

• The ideal collector's companion for any Bond fan or PS5 owner

Critical Acclaim – The Best Bond Game Since GoldenEye

007 First Light has emerged as one of 2026's most acclaimed titles, earning superlatives from critics across the globe:

OpenCritic consensus: "007 First Light is the best Bond game since GoldenEye, according to its review scores" — ranking it with SAROS, Forza Horizon 6, and Resident Evil Requiem as one of 2026's finest games