It’s early yet, but First Light already has 40,275 peak concurrent players on Steam. There aren’t many user reviews – which makes sense, owing to the nature of advanced access – but it currently has a “Mostly Positive” rating with 73 percent recommending the title. Complaints thus far range from being unable to skip the opening title sequence to the movement apparently feeling stiff.

Critics, on the other hand, are quite pleased, as indicated by the current 88 Metascore for the PS5 version (the PC version has an 88 Metascore). The verdict is seemingly unanimous that this is the best James Bond title in a long time, if not ever, and that IO Interactive has delivered on its promises.

Opening sales apparently tell a different story, with Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad claiming they aren’t “tracking well.” Apparently, that’s why IOI spoiled a cameo by TikTok influencer Khaby Lame.

Regardless, we’ll need to wait until the worldwide release tomorrow at 7 AM PDT to see how things shake (and hopefully, not stir) for everyone’s favorite secret agent. In the meantime, check out our feature for more details on what to expect.

007 First Light’s approach to gadgets is to keep them grounded to ensure they feel practical, but bring fun and replayability too. From the gadgets revealed so far, it’s seems IO Interactive is providing a broad suite of tools and abilities to fit individual playstyles, but they’re so utterly, cinematically Bond that they couldn’t be used in the hands of anyone else (not even IOI’s “other” international assassin). With a need to manage resources in loadouts of up to four items, the idea that the studio is pushing for multiple playstyles gains traction. These aren’t infinite-use “Get Out of Jail Free” cards, but tangible tools which shape gameplay in meaningful ways. So now, let’s break down every gadget revealed so far.

Starting with the Omega Seamaster Watch – the Q-Watch. This is Bond’s nucleus from which almost everything else grows. Its face integrates into the HUD, seen in the bottom left. Its UI is surrounded by a compass which re-orientates in-line with Bond’s movement. It’ll indicate the direction to the next objective, whilst inside the face there’s a restricted area warning plus icons for battery and chemical charge. These latter two are integral to the rate at which you can use Bond’s gadgets, as every item in his toolkit consumes one of either energy source.

For every mission, you’ll need to consider your loadout, understand the rate at which gadgets use resources, and look to replenish charge by scavenging, converting found objects, or looting incapacitated enemies. It proposes a constant push-pull between utility and sustainability – do you prioritise quick destruction, or lean into patient subterfuge?

Underlining the Q-Watch as First Light’s systemic core are its various sub-functions. The Laser can be used for environmental destruction or to stun enemies by aiming it squarely at their eyes. Using battery charge, in official gameplay the Laser is shown to cut down a chandelier and incapacitate a guard long enough for Bond to rough him up with ease.

The Q-Watch is also a battery powered hacking device, used primarily to create distractions by remotely triggering electrical equipment. However, disabling security cameras and releasing locked doors are within its capability too. Now, these sort of remote triggers don’t immediately conjure thoughts of futuristic science fiction, but the Q-Lens, which the watch’s hacking ability relies on, brings clear influence from sci-fi and cyberpunk fiction. See, Q-Lens is an environmental scanner, cloaking spaces in digital blue wireframe, locating hackable devices while also highlighting enemies through walls or smokescreens.

In one of the gameplay reveal’s particularly outlandish sequences, Bond even uses the Q-Watch to access the flight control system of a moving aircraft, albeit via a scripted encounter, with the jet’s banking control transferring to you. This suggests that the Q-Watch could be useful for hacking into a range of weapons, machinery, and vehicles for Bond to improvise mayhem, but there’s no confirmation yet that this will be a prominent mechanic throughout. Here’s hoping.

Now, a lot has been made of 007 First Light encouraging various playstyles. You can enter a scene with guns blazing, take a stealthier approach, or combine the two. If you’re looking to sneak by undetected, well, there are a handful of gadgets that will assist you. The Poison Dart Phone, for instance, uses chemical charge to shoot an immobilising projectile, causing targets to feel uncontrollably sick. This tool is useful for removing guards from posts, but it also gives Bond a chance to lift keycards out of an unwell officer’s back pocket.

The Modified Earbuds are Bond’s primary line of communication with mission control, but they’re shown to be a nifty eavesdropping device too, enabling you to lift key information out of unsuspecting NPC conversations without having to break cover. Some outlets are reporting that the Earbuds can also emit a blinding light; if so, this replicates one of the laser’s functions, which doesn’t align with each of the other gadgets’ distinctive designs, so we’ll have to wait and see. Regardless, the Poison Dart Phone and the Modified Earbuds position Bond as an overseeing manipulator rather than a brute-force agent.

He does, however, bring a handful of tools that are more combat-ready too. The chemical charge consuming Smoke Pods are an item you’ve likely handled in games before. They’ll engulf surroundings in opaque fog, giving you opportunity to move through the space cleanly, take down disorientated enemies, or slip by undetected. Bringing an idea in from experience, you might find use for Smoke Pods as an escape and evasion device if things get overwhelming too. And, missible in preview footage, is the Flash Mine, a throwable sticky bomb that can be remotely detonated. This, alongside the Smoke Pods, are options that can help when things go wrong, or, instead, when you want carnage to erupt.

Not everything shown in 007 First Light’s footage comes with a clear explanation, and some of the most intriguing gadgets sit outside of what’s been formally detailed. Chief among them is a Leica-branded camera which is speculated to function as a Shockwave Camera. We see this item in Bond’s loadout during infiltration footage, but he never reveals its capability. The naming suggests some kind of concussive, crowd control function, giving Bond an alternative way of dealing with clustered enemies.

Equally curious is a handgun fitted with illuminated cartridges. Whether these indicate specialised ammunition types, tracking capabilities, or is simply there to provide visual flourish remains to be seen. Then there are the smaller, most grounded of 007’s tools – his lighter and pen. Whilst easy to overlook, the former has already been deployed during that same infiltration mission to ignite a distracting fire. Even through simple items, it seems, you’ll have plenty of scope to improvise.

Behind every gadget in 007 First Light is Q-Branch, and the game leans into Bond’s relationship with his Quartermaster heavily. See, Q here isn’t just a narrative plughole, but through mentorship he becomes the architect of Bond’s toolkit, and, presumably, his rise through MI6’s ranks. With new character Dr Tan assisting on the TAC-SIM side of operations, together they position gadgets as modular tools to be mixed, matched, and refined.

And, what is Bond fiction without a showroom of overpowered vehicles? First Light’s confirmed lineup spans a wide-range of styles and eras, from the cutting-edge Aston Martin Valhalla to the classic 1970 Aston Martin DBS, seen in yellow silhouette careening down a mountainside in the gameplay reveal. There is also the more contemporary Aston Martin DBS alongside a Jaguar XJ which Bond uses during a stint as an undercover chauffeur.

Cars are ordinarily an extension of Bond’s gadgetry, and whilst details are relatively light on exactly what high-tech gizmos Q will be loading into the game’s vehicles we do see a little taste of what’s possible through the brief glimpse of a flamethrowing rocket mounted to the back of a Triumph TF 250-X motocross dirt bike. Bond fiction always blurs the lines between transport and weaponry, so we’ve some high expectations here.

From what we’ve seen, to what we can only speculate on, the key idea here is that 007 First Light’s gadgets are not gimmicks but systems-driven tools, emphasising your choices, encouraging emergent gameplay, and perhaps supporting extensive replayability. Will more gadgets be revealed before launch? Who knows. But, the potential for creative problem-solving through the items revealed so far is undeniable.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

See, its end-of-May window comes just after some of the month’s biggest releases, but before July’s heavy hitters, with June strangely vacant of competing titles, Gothic 1 Remake aside. In other words, First Light finds itself in a potentially powerful gap.

It’s also arriving at a time when big budget, single player narratives seem to be at a crossroads, particularly as platform holders reassess where experiences of this ilk deliver the most value. Then, against this backdrop, 007 himself is under the microscope, where meta-discussion on which actor will portray the next Bond is feverishly growing now Amazon MGM Studios has officially begun casting for the next movie. And, looping this back to the game, First Light’s own Bond actor is generating discussion for how he’s characterising young 007’s persona.

However, all these factors aren’t blurring First Light’s trajectory, but instead they’re focusing its landing, giving it a chance to cut through meaningfully beyond its set-in-stone release date. If it does land well, a relatively quiet early Summer won’t be the only factor: competition is varied, players are more receptive than usual to story-driven blockbusters, and – away from games – Bond’s future is squarely in the crosshairs.

Still, there’s no denying the final weeks of May are packed. Forza Horizon 6 arrived 19th May to rapturous reception, followed closely by LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight which, judging by numerous reviews, is poised to realise the franchise’s strongest ambition to date. 007 First Light launches May 27th, making three high-profile releases within just over a week. But volume doesn’t necessarily mean direct competition.

See, in Forza Horizon 6’s case, the open world arcade racer occupies its own lane; a sprawling motorsport festival with a broad, systems-heavy appeal. LEGO Batman, meanwhile, leans into family-friendly design, co-operative play, and the enduring pull of superhero fiction. Both are significant, but neither overlaps meaningfully with First Light’s offering.

And, overlap is the key word here. Modern release calendars are less about avoiding competing titles entirely, but minimising overlap. Publishers would rather avoid fighting with other titles for limited headspace. Just look at the countless end-of-year reshuffles that are making room for Grand Theft Auto VI’s unstoppable juggernaut.

In this sense, 007 First Light isn’t so much entering a crowded battlefield, but carving a space of its own. The question, then, doesn’t ask if late-May is too busy, but whether 007’s first game in more than a decade can capitalise on being the only major title set to deliver a specific, narrative-focused, character-driven experience.

And once it’s out, as we’ve already alluded, June looks relatively light on competitors too. So, if it reviews well, its clips drive social media engagement, and online discussion remains positive, then the lead-in to July could become First Light’s exclusive runway. It’ll steadily grow its presence before its first credible competitor in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced emerges on July 9th.

The only potential spanner in the works is Summer Game Fest, which is set to flood your timeline with new announcements, world premieres, and updates for upcoming titles from June 5th onwards, diverting attention away from 007 First Light. But, while the industry continues to look ahead – perennially as it does – First Light has immediacy. It’s playable now, whereas all those future titles showcased in Summer Game Fest are not.

And, again, if First Light lands well and retains attention, by the time Summer Game Fest rolls around the game should have addressed one of its main misconceptions. See, despite what the online discourse says, 007 First Light is not Hitman re-skinned as James Bond. IO Interactive has worked diligently to ensure the experiences feel distinct from each other, in pacing, structure, and tone alike.

First Light is a linear experience which approaches, at times, on-rails design, where exploratory sections lead measuredly into explosive set pieces. It’s as far removed from Agent 47’s all-you-can-eat murder buffet as IO Interactive could muster, putting the game in similar territory to Uncharted, albeit with broader options for different playstyles than Naughty Dog’s action-adventure series. At a time when narrative-heavy, single player games are at a crossroads, this distinction matters more than you think.

See, while Sony reportedly rethinks the PS5-to-PC pipeline, citing single player exclusives as driving hardware sales, 007 First Light – as a ‘prestige’ single player third-party game – has an even greater chance to stand out. As strategies consistently fluctuate, and product confidence ebbs and flows, First Light isn’t just releasing at a time where overlap with other titles is diminished, but potentially during an identity gap in the AAA single player space.

And another strong differentiator is Patrick Gibson himself as Bond. While reactions to his version of Bond haven’t been unanimously positive, to put it mildly, with a smug, unearned confidence overshadowing his portrayal, IO Interactive, instead, claim his divisive, sometimes abrasive characterisation is deliberate.

Don’t forget, First Light’s Bond is young and reckless. He’s not yet jaded by countless hard years working as the stoic spy we know from the movies. IO Interactive’s stance is that any division Patrick Gibson’s portrayal generates is good. Their rationale: playing it safe isn’t memorable. And, their point of view mirrors the game itself, alongside the industry at large. It’s not Hitman. It’s not a traditional Bond. 007 First Light is taking risks to ensure it’s unforgettable.

And, IO Interactive’s quiet confidence is underlined by the game reaching gold status early, a surefire sign that First Light is well-placed to hit the ground running with minimal hiccups. In an era where broken launches and post-release fixes are the norm, confirmation that development is complete and the game is ready to ship should transfer some of the studio’s confidence onto you, the player. See, studios don’t always get the luxury of extra polishing time before release, but when they do, and when gold status arrives early, it’s a sign of internal stability.

Taken alongside its distinct direction, narrative-led design, and divisive take on Bond, going gold represents a broader impression: this is a game that knows what it wants to be, made by a studio that isn’t afraid to stand by it.

So, to sum up: 007 First Light isn’t launching into an empty window. However, it may not need to. Tailing a crowded, yet segmented, May but preceding a surprisingly open June, and a July that arrives just late enough, the game has genuine opportunity to establish itself before conversation shifts elsewhere, presuming it keeps its head afloat during Summer Game Fest.

More importantly, its potential doesn’t rest on calendar timing alone. No, 007 First Light showcases a deliberately divergent identity, with IO Interactive even embracing the divisive reaction to its take on Bond. At a time when big-budget single player games are in another state of transition, IO Interactive could yet prove that playing it safe is what invites your own death knell after all. Being brave and fully committing to potentially abrasive design decisions are, perhaps, the open secrets to success which more studios should follow.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, modern Tomb Raider, perhaps even elements of Ghost of Yōtei aside, there’s an entire style of tightly choreographed, cinematic AAA adventure that’s becoming increasingly rare in Uncharted 4’s wake. Have swashbuckling, globetrotting action-adventures had their day? Is there still enough appetite for a charismatic character-driven narrative comparable to Nathan Drake’s exploits?

Look – 007 First Light is not the same as Uncharted, but if you’ve been waiting for a game to deliver the same feeling – like you’re playing a movie – then IO Interactive’s upcoming James Bond origin story might scratch that specific itch. It’s hardly Nathan Drake’s return, but 007 First Light could be the closest thing to his kind of blockbuster adventure in a decade.

But first, if we’re assessing similarities between both titles we must address a common misconception: in Uncharted, you hunt for treasure, whilst as Bond, you’re engaging in international espionage. Both operate in cinematic, third-person, action frameworks, with cover shooting, scripted chaos, and spectacle at the core of each experience. Yet, it’s important to note that ‘treasure hunting’ and ‘spying’ are surface-level aesthetics. The underlying design is what matters here. In other words, the Uncharted series and 007 First Light present different fantasies, but underneath is the same structural DNA.

One of Uncharted’s great strengths, and an aspect Naughty Dog all-but perfected by Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, is a consistent sense of forward motion. Exploratory segments often felt like escalation, like a puzzle being carefully put in place purely to blast into smithereens once the next awe-striking set-piece arrives. Now, given IO Interactive’s pedigree, 007 First Light is gathering undue comparisons to Hitman. Whilst Agent 47’s methodical observation, social stealth, and professional improvisation are visible touchstones in 007 First Light, the emphasis is very much on momentum-first design, putting its pacing in league with Uncharted. By bluffing past guards, or deploying gadgets designed for escape and evasion, Bond’s toolset is ample enough to forge through any situation that would otherwise force a restart in Hitman.

And then we have the protagonists themselves. Both Drake and First Light’s version of Bond are charming, steadfast, and occasionally reckless. Drake’s experienced but he’s fallible, whereas 007, in this origin story, is young, not fully formed, and still honing his craft as MI6’s blunt instrument. If there’s a question, it’s this: does he feel like Bond to play? At his juvenile age, his charisma certainly seems less earned. But is he, perhaps, closer to Drake than the developers intended? For sure, his over-confident persona brings 007 First Light’s emotional tone closer to Uncharted, whether that’s intended or not. He’s not a literal Drake with a taste for Aston Martins, but his design veers into a space Uncharted helped define.

So, if the characterisation in both games’ protagonist has overlap, 007 First Light appears to be chasing a similar energy in its set-pieces too. See, this is a huge part of what made the Uncharted series so memorable: how carefully the action was staged. Whether it was a collapsing building, a convoy chase, or a desperate last-second escape, these moments were tightly curated for maximum impact. You maintained control throughout, of course, but the spectacle itself was always guided by cinematic precision.

007 First Light features the same high-intensity set-pieces: vehicle chases, shootouts, explosions, and dramatic encounters. But, unlike Uncharted’s on-rails approach, 007 First Light frequently opens these scenarios up, giving you more agency in how they unfold.

This, contrary to our earlier point, is where a semblance of Hitman DNA begins to show. Instead of simply reacting to spectacle, 007 First Light invites you to shape it. Encounters can be approached through stealth, direct combat, social manipulation, or a blend of all three. Even in those moments where the game leads you to a shooting gallery, it doesn’t insist on taking control away from you. It leans into Uncharted’s style of cinematic framing, sure, but its authored sequences frequently mix in open-ended, pressure-driven problem solving. If Uncharted made you experience its spectacle like you’re inside of a movie, 007 First Light, by contrast, seems able to give you a hand in directing it.

Of course, blending authored set pieces and player-driven actions isn’t easy to pull off. Delivering tightly choreographed spectacle in the style of Uncharted is one thing, layering meaningful choice on top without diluting the experience is another, and this is a challenge facing 007 First Light. IO Interactive has already proven themselves through Hitman’s systemic design, but translating those ideas into a more linear, cinematic framework is a fresh test.

There’s a balance the studio is aiming to achieve: structure without lost freedom; openness that maintains pace. In this sense, 007 First Light feels like it could be an experiment in where cinematic AAA design is heading. Games like Uncharted lean heavily on direction, whereas systemic games like Hitman prioritise player expression. Rarely have the two designs intertwined at this scale. If 007 First Light succeeds, it could signal a shift in how Hollywood-style action games are presented in the future.

And yet, for all the similarities between 007 First Light and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Bond’s upcoming adventure – as alluded to already – ultimately distinguishes itself through the fantasy it’s striving to portray. See, Nathan Drake often embodies a chaotic, luck-driven anti-hero, whilst young Bond leans towards control, precision, and restraint.

Design-wise, you’ll see this difference in how combat encounters unfold. For Bond, with a license to kill which activates once opponents unholster their weapons, violence is more reactive than initiated (Hitman’s reactive DNA again, perhaps). Whilst early impressions indicate that most enemies will open fire despite only light provocation, it’s still a notable contrast to Uncharted’s occasionally dissonant approach, where Drake’s charm sits uneasily alongside the sheer volume of assailants he ruthlessly cuts through. 007 First Light’s encounter design shows shades of the Batman: Arkham series’ controlled flow – a game IO Interactive has cited as influencing the game’s combat – meaning the decision on whether to act or de-escalate hinges on you.

The result is a different, more calculated power fantasy, and this distinction is quite important. Regardless on where your opinion ultimately lands, managing your expectations – as always – is pivotal to getting the most out of 007 First Light. Yes, we’ve proposed numerous similarities by highlighting the emotional comparisons in both games, but 007 First Light is more of a hybrid experience; not fully linear nor purely scripted, but nonetheless indebted to that design philosophy.

With no new Uncharted game on the horizon, there is space for a successor to move in. If the industry has indeed moved away from this kind of game – like we speculated at the start of this feature – 007 First Light suggests, instead, that a few simple evolutions are all that’s required for cinematic, character-driven games to reclaim lost territory. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End defined a genre, but 007 First Light might just show what that genre looks like after a ten-year hiatus.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Settling into the Pearl, a vacation resort, Bond’s purpose is equally about business as pleasure. He needs to plant Q-Traks on three targets – Theresa Lorca, Ramon Hernandez, and Ellis White. The first is relaxing in the Serenity Space, going over some documents, and there’s no room for more entrants.

The solution? Use a Phone Dart to make one of the patrons sick and take their place. Of course, despite wanting to apply the Q-Trak and be done with it, James opts for a roundabout approach – increasing the fan speed to blow away the documents, and catch Lorca off-guard.

Unfortunately, the gameplay cuts off there, but based on the other locations in the resort, from a hotel room to a yoga spot, they may come into play for the other targets. The real question is how many options will be available for achieving Bond’s goals.

007 First Light launches on May 27th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Early access starts on May 26th for Deluxe Edition owners, and preloading is only available on PlayStation.

To that end, Gibson told the BBC that the “gap between playing a game and watching a show has got smaller.” Which isn’t something you’d typically think of in IO Interactive’s new Hitman trilogy, despite the initial episodic approach. However, First Light marks a deeper narrative focus for the developer, opting for more linear sections to drive the action forward.

Narrative director Martin Emborg agreed with Gibson, noting that, “There are stories that are better served in a game. It engages you in a completely different way.”

Part of that is due to how First Light approached Bond. Compared to previous 007 titles, which Emborg described as “often more action-driven,” it focused on capturing the superspy’s “entire gamut of abilities.” “You can throw down, but you can also charm your way in. There’s a whole spy work portion of gameplay.” Besides opening more narrative avenues, it also helps distinguish the title from the Hitman franchise in numerous ways.

Whether you’re relying on gadgets, engaging in CQC, or prompting a tangible threat that requires a License to Kill to go guns blazing, 007 First Light certainly appears to succeed in portraying Bond. It’s not above showcasing a more vulnerable side to him, either, as evidenced in the first 13 minutes of gameplay recently released.

Launching on May 27th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC (later for Nintendo Switch 2), 007 First Light is sadly only available to preload on PlayStation. IO Interactive didn’t state why, but it could be to prevent leaks, which more and more games have suffered lately.

That’s Isola, by the way – an ally of this new, younger take on Bond but one who’s enigmatic enough to raise questions (and even referred to as a “means to an end” by M). Besides this, IO Interactive circles back around to 009, Bond’s quarry from the gameplay reveal. It seems he has a plan, but even Greenway, the head of the 00 program, believes the agency won’t see the endgame coming.

From that angle, Bond’s recruitment feels like a necessity – having more manpower to ensure “eyes everywhere.” Regardless of all the mind games going on, First Light promises plenty of action, showcasing a close-quarters fight in a bathroom and even an explosive jumping sequence in some facility on the water. Bond will still have time to employ his signature charm, though, especially when he calls himself St. John Smythe – an alias from A View to Kill starring Roger Moore.

007 First Light launches on May 27th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC with Deluxe Edition owners starting early on May 26th.

The game has topped pre-orders on the PlayStation Store in both the US and the UK, and we’re suspecting that the free upgrade to the Deluxe Edition and the bonus one-day early access might also have something to do with it.

Of course, there are other goodies thrown in too, but we suspect that this one’s success is more than that. For starters, it’s aiming to be the best Bond game ever, which is a lofty but achievable goal. Its PS5 Pro version is primed to make efficient use of Upgraded PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution from launch itself. We’ve also spoken at length about how this one could help James Bond become a more consistent presence in video games, similar to how the Arkham franchise is the first thing you think of when Batman titles are mentioned.

A look at James Bond’s early days is a great way to witness the beginning of something special, and 007 First Light could become the opening chapter of that story when it launches on May 27th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Much like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Resident Evil Requiem, and other titles, Upgraded PSSR specifically improves temporal stability for moving objects, especially with foliage, geometry, hair, and other details. The result is fewer flickering artifacts and, in First Light’s case, objects that remain stable even as Bond quickly traverses his environment.

“Upgraded PSSR gave us a meaningful jump in image quality across the board — cleaner, more stable, and noticeably sharper on the kind of fine detail that’s hardest to get right. It’s a clear upgrade for our PS5 Pro players,” said technical director Henrik Schlichter on the PlayStation Blog. Best of all, the implementation took very little work, with IOI’s engineers integrating in a day. No per-scene tuning needed.

“We integrated upgraded PSSR in about a day and were essentially happy with what we saw straight away,” revealed principal render engineer Jon Rocatis. “No per-scene tuning, no special-case work — it just held up across the whole game. That’s not something we get to say very often about a piece of new tech.”

While the developer hasn’t shed any light on the resolution for the graphics modes on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, it confirmed AMD FSR 3.1.5 as the de facto upscaler. We’ll see how the results pan out when 007 First Light launches on May 27th.

It went gold last week, and since then, we’ve been treated to a trailer showcasing Greenway, who heads the 00 program, and learned more about actor Patrick Gibson’s reaction to scoring the starring role. For even more details and how it compares to the Hitman franchise, check out our feature here.

Emborg’s statement might raise a few eyebrows, since many believe that Nintendo 64 shooter GoldenEye 007 might be the best video game based on James Bond ever. However, this might be based on nostalgia, since the title came out during a time when shooters were uncommon on consoles, and featured a compelling splitscreen multiplayer mode that many enjoyed. There have also been other James Bond games since then, including the 2002 title James Bond 007: Nightfire.

As for 007: First Light, when asked about what kind of legacy he wants the game to leave behind, Emborg playfully said, “Just that everyone agrees that this is the best Bond game ever.” Patrick Gibson, who plays Bond in the upcoming game, added, “Or just the best game ever.” This drew another response from Emborg, who said, “I’ll take that. That’s kind of the minimum that we can expect.”

It is worth noting that, while there have been many games based on James Bond in the past, a majority of them focused on singular genres, like action-packed shooters or slow stealth games. IO Interactive’s experience with free-flowing social stealth with the Hitman series has put the studio in the position to have its own unique take on the franchise with 007: First Light.

Studio CEO Hakan Abrak has spoken about what to expect from 007: First Light after launch. In an interview from earlier this month, he spoke about the relationship between IO Interactive and IP owner Amazon, and how there was a focus on quality between the two companies.

“There’s always some settling to do,” said Abrak about first working with Amazon for 007: First Light. “There are new people that you have to talk to. But when that change happened, they were very, very impressed with what we had at that point already. And we just got into the collaboration, with all the beats and planning we had to do for the marketing.”

“One constant partner from MGM, and MGM Amazon now, has been our executive producer from the other side. He’s been there from day one and is still here, and he’s been a pivotal anchor point. But from Amazon’s side, I’ll be so bold and say, they can see it’s a great game. And having invested and taken over that IP, they obviously want to make sure that everything that comes out is great. So, once they got into it and played, they became huge supporters. And we are very grateful for that.”

Abrak also said that, thanks to this relationship that has been fostered over the course of 007: First Light‘s development, a sequel could happen if the game does well enough.

007: First Light is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on May 29th. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is in the works, slated for later this Summer.