“This means we have to adapt to this new reality and its short-term consequences, including staffing decisions, which is what is happening as we write this update, and we are fully committed to supporting those affected through this challenging transition,” it said on Twitter.

“Project Fantasy is a game, a world, and an IP that we absolutely love and remain 100% committed to, now and in the future. This wonderful universe will see the light of day.”

If you’ll remember, however, leaked documents from the FTC’s case against Microsoft indicated that the latter was the partner in question. In an intriguing twist, it actually confirmed the same to Bloomberg while reassuring that its gaming investment isn’t “reducing.”

“We’re not reducing our overall investment in games. We expect to invest about the same in content as we did last year. What’s changing is where we’re investing and the kinds of projects we’re backing,” a spokesperson told Jason Schreier.

This is far from the first time that Xbox backed out of major projects, causing untold upheaval. Avalanche suspended development on Contraband after the last round of mass layoffs at Microsoft, and the project has effectively been cancelled. Romero Games faced a similar dilemma with its upcoming shooter – although it was saved, it’s since been “completely redesigned.”

For what it’s worth, Project Fantasy – announced in February 2023 as an online fantasy role-playing game – isn’t dead, and IO Interactive remains committed to it. The real question is whether finding a new publisher is necessary for it to “see the light of day.” As always, stay tuned for more updates in the coming days, especially as we near alleged record layoffs at Xbox.

While half of the top 10 list in the US were new releases for the month, the other half was made up of older games, like Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, MLB: The Show 26, Crimson Desert, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and Mario Kart World.

When taking the whole year into account, Resident Evil Requiem continues to take the top spot for game sales in the US. It is followed by Crimson Desert in second place and MLB: The Show 26 in third place. Despite being a relatively new release, 007 First Light has managed to do incredibly well by taking the fourth spot for the entire year so far, followed by Forza Horizon 6 in fifth. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is the only new release to have broken through the top 10 sales for the year, coming in at 7th place.

007 First Light ended up getting quite a few accolades for its performance in May 2026, being the best-selling PlayStation game for the month, as well as the highest “full game dollar sales” of any James Bond game in history.

All in all, Piscatella has reported that total video game spending in the US for May 2026 hit $4.2 billion, which marks a 3 percent increase over May 2025. By the time the month was over, the year-to-date spending was 4 percent higher than last year, coming in at $23 billion.

Interestingly, Piscatella has noted that consoles served as the primary platform for game spending in May 2026 in the US, with total spending having gone up by 25 percent compared to last year. When taking year-to-date figures, console content spending is 13 percent higher. PC and subscriptions haven’t fallen behind either, coming in at 15 percent and 11 percent year-on-year increases, respectively.

Piscatella has also revealed details about console hardware sales in the US for May 2026, noting that both PlayStation and Xbox haven’t been doing too well. While it was the first May faced by PlayStation since 2000, Piscatella has confirmed that May 2026 was the worst May for Xbox since Microsoft launched the division. While there are likely many reasons for console sales falling in this regard, Piscatella also brought up the fact that price hikes have led to consoles simply getting too expensive. Xbox, for example, saw a 22 percent increase in average hardware price since 2025. PlayStation, on the other hand, saw an increase of 33 percent year-on-year.

“Xbox is currently tracking a distant third in hardware sales among the major manufacturers. But they are getting more revenue from each unit sold, enough to make dollar sales grow in May despite the unit drop,” said Piscatella. “If that fits the definition of ‘working’ or not, I don’t know.”

May 2026 U.S. Projected Top 10 Best-Selling Games Ranked on Physical & Full Game Digital Dollar Sales (Excludes Mobile and Digital Add-On Content)

— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) 2026-06-26T13:00:03.576Z

YTD 2026 U.S. Projected Top 10 Best-Selling Games Ranked on Physical & Full Game Digital Dollar Sales (Excludes Mobile and Digital Add-On Content)

— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) 2026-06-26T13:00:03.577Z

Content – Console drove content spending growth in May. Total spending on console content increased by 25% compared to a year ago and is now 13% higher year-to-date. PC content (+15% versus a year ago) and subscription spending (+11%) also grew in May.

— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) 2026-06-26T13:00:03.585Z

Content – 007 First Light was May’s leader in full game dollar sales, debuting as the 4th best-seller of 2026 year-to-date. It also led all titles in full game dollar sales on PlayStation platforms in the month.

— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) 2026-06-26T13:00:03.586Z

Did you really think about the playtime? Or if you’d actually be entertained during those hours? That it was a linear experience is only one factor, because even if there were an optional side area or two, or additional difficulties to encourage replay value, the main story path would still need to deliver. Why else would you drop $60 on it?

Of course, over time, that promise has become muddied. It’s the age of $70 games, with the occasional threat of an $80 release. Where developers aren’t just pushing for massive game worlds, they’re promising entire systems to explore (well, at least one of them did, to a mixed response). Gaming as a hobby has become much more expensive in general. As a result, players look for the most bang for their buck or join the overwhelming majority that only really play a handful of titles all year – Madden, Call of Duty, EA Sports FC – not to mention free-to-play titles like Fortnite.

But for every new title with checklists of stuff to do – free or otherwise; for every game that pushes Battle Passes, challenges, and whatnot, there will still be titles that favor succinct quality over excessive padding. We’ve seen it in the likes of Astro Bot, Returnal, Saros, and so on, and we’re seeing it again in 007 First Light.

You can see it from the opening minutes to the training missions in Malta to Bond’s first real mission in Slovakia. The story moves at a brisk pace when it needs to but also takes its time when required. You’ll have plenty of moments that establish the characters and setting, making you actually care about them. It could be Greenway administering a lie detector test to Bond and drawing his ire, or trying to earn money to enter Bawma’s private auction for a chance to meet him. Every single scene is deliberate but never outstays its welcome.

The sheer restraint in the storytelling is as incredible as those high-note moments, be it while chasing enemies through the countryside or during an intense shootout. There is that promised forward momentum in every aspect of the gameplay, but the development team knows how to temper it with variety.

The result? This feeling of pushing ahead to see what’s next, be it a gorgeous new environment or some new plot development. Maybe you’ll unlock a new gadget that fundamentally changes how you play. Perhaps a seemingly innocuous story sequence will lead to you chasing assassins to a gala, transitioning from running and gunning across rooftops to tense stealth, and back again. It’s a design approach that I can only really describe as “watercooler moments,” where something incredible is always around the corner, keeping you hooked.

And yet, even as First Light crams all these moments in while offering the occasional level with multiple approaches, and numerous unique locations, the story can be completed in about 15 to 16 hours. Partaking in the extra side content bumps that up to about 19 hours. That’s not including repeat playthroughs on a higher difficulty, of course. Which wouldn’t be surprising to anyone who’s played IOI’s Hitman World of Assassination. For all the replay value on offer, especially with Freelancer mode, the main story of each title isn’t very long.

However, at $70 for First Light, it’s easy to balk at that playtime in this day and age. But once again, just like an Uncharted or The Last of Us back in the day, you’re paying for a certain level of quality. The real question before launch is whether IOI could actually execute on that and deliver everything that it promises. Judging by the reviews from critics and the response from almost three million players, we’d say they were successful.

Not that a James Bond title couldn’t have worked as an open-world game, but this particular 007 experience could only be delivered like this, even if it didn’t necessarily cost $200 million to develop as widely reported.

None of this is to knock open-world games or titles that you can sink dozens, maybe hundreds of hours into (though I can think of more than a few live-service titles that deserve the criticism). There’s also nothing wrong with adding features that encourage replaying, even if that’s not your main reason. For example, Titanfall 2’s multiplayer would have been the biggest appeal for returning fans, but it remains one of the best single-player first-person shooter campaigns of all-time. In the same vein, anyone who picked it up just for the story would have gotten their money’s worth.

But there’s a difference between extra features or side activities and padding that doesn’t serve the game in any shape or form. Insomniac Games understood that with the Marvel’s Spider-Man games – that’s why their stories take about 17 hours to complete. Could it have justified extending the sequel’s playtime, especially with all the things fans wanted to see but never got (Symbiote-infused Sandman, we barely knew ye)? Of course, and it might have done so if not for the already massive budget.

Would it have gone that route if it affected the pacing and overall plot? Probably not. Granted, not every single sequence is a winner, but none overstay their welcome. Keep in mind that these are still open-world games at heart – it’s just that the approach to storytelling is very much in line with a linear single-player experience.

Value is subjective, and one person’s $20 microtransaction is another’s Hollow Knight: Silksong (as depressing as that may sound). But if this year has served as a reminder of anything, it’s that triple-A games can have incredible linear single-player campaigns and still be successful. Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata proved this, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword could complete that hat trick.

Not everyone can deliver this kind of experience, and I’d be lying if I said it always meant success. See Saros reportedly selling only 405,000 copies since launching last April, despite costing $70.

Regardless, the point still stands. You don’t need to stuff hours of busywork into the experience for the sake of “value,” or just abandon the formula outright because the call of the live-service model is too strong (see: Rocksteady). Maybe it’s because more and more publishers have reeled enough from these games-as-a-service titles to instead fall back on the tried and true, even as development costs continue to balloon.

That doesn’t mean the budgets will reduce anytime soon, especially with reports about Gears of War: E-Day costing upwards of $400 million to develop (and that packs a lot more than just a campaign). But there’s something to be said about delivering a tight, well-knit story that doesn’t make you wait for the fun. Value is subjective, but time is money, and sometimes, a 15-hour experience that stays with you can feel superior to a 100-hour title that feels like a slog.

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.

However, the confusion has since been cleared up, and Gattis has commented on the possibility of the sequel moving from wishful thinking to concrete reality in an interview with IGN. “First of all, let me set the record straight for you. I did not confirm that Amazon Game Studios is publishing the next one. Did not say that. So unfortunately, it got picked up, and once it runs, it runs. No, IO’s been great. They’ve been great partners. In fact, I was over there visiting them in Copenhagen a couple of months ago. The game’s doing great. Let’s let the game breathe and have its day.

“Trust that we’re going to be smart about this. I mean, it’s market appetite. As long as we feel there’s a desire for players to have the game, it’s safe to say it’s going to be made.”

While that might be enough proof that a sequel is definitely coming, we’d advise cautious optimism despite Gattis saying it “should be made” in light of the current game’s profitability. It’s important to remember that Amazon MGM owns the rights to the James Bond IP, so the decision will have to pass its table before anything materializes.

We’re going to wait on an official announcement before we bring out the champagne, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario where a follow-up to a title that blends action, stealth, brutal combat, and an engaging story well enough to make it feel like a Bond movie in motion doesn’t get a sequel. Nevertheless, it’s a strange world out there, and anything can happen, so it’s best to wait and see.

The milestone is all the more impressive considering the rather average response on Steam. Despite a 91 percent “Very Positive” rating based on 10,917 user reviews, the PC version peaked at 71,073 concurrent players on the platform, that too several days ago. Of course, this lends credence to the majority of sales being on consoles, and considering how well the game runs on Xbox Series X and PS5, that wouldn’t be too surprising.

It also doesn’t hurt that its Uncharted-style set pieces and action could appeal to PlayStation fans who have desperately wanted a new entry. Well, the good news is that First Light is only getting started, as IOI’s Year 1 map confirmed new challenges and rewards for its TacSim alongside New Game+ for the campaign and a new mission focused on Bawma.

Nintendo Switch 2 players will have to wait until later this Summer to get their hands on the title, but that just means more content potentially waiting for them. Stay tuned for updates and check out our review for the PC version in the meantime.

But that’s not all. Bond will be returning to Aleph at Bawma’s request, who has something that may be interesting. Judging by the gold-plated bullet, it may have to do with the infamous Golden Gun.

Besides this new mission, fans can look forward to the Path Tracing update on PC, a new gadget in the G2 Glasses, and New Game+ for the campaign. There’s also Photo Mode, milestone no. 5 for those who wishlisted, and a celebratory reward on James Bond Day.

The Nintendo Switch 2 version is also on the Year 1 roadmap, though it remains to be seen if it will launch this Summer as originally planned. IOI has talked about taking its time to ensure the port’s quality, and it could very well require even more work.

As for release dates on all of this, we’ll need to wait for more details. 007 First Light is currently available on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, with over 1.5 million copies sold. Check out our review here, where we gave it a nine out of ten.

Amazon also praised its partnership with IO Interactive, noting that there are still more plans for the game that will be revealed in the “near future”.

“Amazon MGM holds the rights to any future James Bond video games, but it’s still too early to discuss future projects,” said a spokesperson for Amazon. “We have a great relationship with IO Interactive and are proud of what we’ve accomplished together on 007 First Light. Our partners at IO will reveal more about 007 First Light in the near future, and we’re looking forward to sharing what’s next.”

In his own statement from yesterday, Gattis had noted that Amazon “didn’t have the full rights to the First Light James Bond game,” and posited that any potential sequel would be “done by MGM and, theoretically, by Amazon Game Studios.”

“We did not [make 007 First Light],” he continued. “We do have a stake in it because we now own the IP, but that IP acquisition happened after the First Light IO deal was already done.”

As for why Amazon would want to be more hands-on with its IP, Gattis spoke about wanting to expand the stories beyond just video games. Pointing to Tomb Raider as an example, he said that the tech giant also has larger ambitions for things like new TV shows and movies that could further expand on the audience brought in by game releases.

“We do see this continued integration of video and movies and video games, where that line is becoming much more blurry,” he explained. “We think that’s a real opportunity for us to create IP that extends — or kind of expands upon — TV shows and movies. So, there’ll be a Tomb Raider TV show on Prime Video that’ll go alongside the games. There’s a lot of things we have in the works on new games that’ll relate to Prime Video IP.”

“This is where we’ve kind of made some bets on first-party content.”

007 First Light was released just last week on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is also planned for release later in the summer. When asked about it, studio CEO Hakan Abrak said that the team already had it running on the console, and that it was making sure that the port didn’t suffer from poor performance.

“It’s running on the Switch 2,” he said. “We just want to make sure it’s as good as it can be. I don’t want to hear it wasn’t a good version. To be completely honest, we need a bit more time to get it where we want it to be. We said summer. It’s probably going to be late summer. But we’re going to get it out.”

In the meantime, take a look at our review of 007 First Light. And while you’re at it, also check out our thoughts on how it holds up against GoldenEye 007.

Going from a freshly minted member of the Navy to working for MI6, the would-be 007 has to learn many a harsh lesson throughout First Light. For those who haven’t played through its excellent campaign, all that’s been revealed is that a rogue agent, 009, is on the loose and Bond must apprehend him. What the former’s plan is and what it could mean for the world is shrouded in mystery, but there are plenty of explosions, exotic locations, mysterious individuals and more than a few situations in which James faces certain death.

So without further ado, let’s discuss the ending of 007 First Light and how it sets up a potential sequel. Major spoilers follow from here, so if you’ve yet to finish the story, turn back now.

First and foremost, to answer one of the more burning questions: Does James earn the number? Does he indeed become a 00 agent? Well, yes – originally given the number “001,” but since he’s technically the seventh recruit – and that just happens to be M’s lucky number – he is James Bond. Cue the iconic theme, and the shot down the familiar gun barrel sequence. But how does he get there?

It all starts in Slovakia, the same mission showcased in the gameplay reveal where Bond and fellow 00 recruits must track down Rhys Beckett, aka 009, who’s gone rogue. Of course, things take a horrifying turn, leaving two of his allies dead and a third paralysed (albeit for only a time) in a bombing. A fourth falls victim to an assassin posing as a hotel staff member, who happens to be one half of the Murto twins. When Bond catches up with Beckett’s plane, he fails to apprehend him, but thanks to a well-placed tracker, he knows where he’s going.

Together with Greenway, his mentor in the 00 program, they venture to Mauritania, but as it turns out, Beckett isn’t responsible for the bombing. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s dead.

After successfully escaping, the duo report to M, who simply closes the case. As far as MI6 is concerned, their culprit is dealt with, and it’s time to move on. Which isn’t something that Bond is comfortable with, but before he can dig deeper, he’s attacked by another Murto twin at his home. Upon having his behind handed to him, the latter escapes, but Bond gives pursuit across rooftops and eventually ends up at a gala, where he disposes of the assassin.

However, he also makes some rather disturbing discoveries. The gala is hosted by Sir Nicholas Webb, an AI advocate who also created THEIA, a supercomputer which MI6 uses for intel. While generally renowned and respected by the public, Bond learns that Webb planned the bombing. Damien, his son, has also been roped in for the more hands-on work, but despite being captured, Bond is bailed out by Isola Vale, whom he met in Slovakia.

She introduced herself as an agent for France’s DGSE named Charlotte Roth, but that’s just a farce. In reality, she’s a very capable thief – heck, Isola isn’t even her real name. Despite all this, Bond is grateful and views her as an ally – one who wants to take revenge on Webb.

Together with Greenway, Bond ventures into Webb Industries and discovers that the bombing wasn’t just to kill Beckett for no reason. It was actually to cover up the fact that THEIA hasn’t been working up to snuff. Alongside mistakenly designating Beckett as a mole, two other agents are named, which hits Greenway the hardest since he had to kill them as part of a mission. Seemingly aware that THEIA was on the fritz, Beckett would have to die to protect Webb’s work.

Things take another turn, this time for Bond, when he and Greenway are charged with terrorism (Webb’s influence with Foreign Secretary Bright coming in handy). With M’s help, Bond ventures to a Vietnam resort in pursuit of Damien, but also has to deal with the surviving Murto twin, who seeks to kill Theresa Lorca, a biologist. Damien eventually emerges, and while he captures Bond yet again, Greenway comes to his aid, though he’s wounded while chasing after Damien. Bond engages in a tense fight against the latter, who’s physically enhanced thanks to a synthetic compound, but at one opportune moment, he manages to stab Damien in the eye. Falling to a scaffolding with his leg seemingly broken, Bond delivers the final blow – or blows, rather, dropping multiple metal pipes on Damien.

He then reunites with Greenway, who reveals that he saved Bond because he’s got heart, and that’s what MI6 needs. Before dying, he tells him, “Don’t let it change you,” doubtless referring to the job of an agent.

Back on home turf, Webb seems a step ahead, receiving immunity from MI6 after leaking information. Instead of simply returning home and turning himself in, Bond becomes a rogue agent. Together with Isola, they venture to Antarctica, where Webb is keeping another supercomputer similar to THEIA called HYPERION. After reaching its core, Isola suddenly turns coat, killing Webb and taking it, prompting Bond to give pursuit. Eventually, he destroys the core, and they’re both taken in by MI6.

However, it turns out that Damien is actually alive, and assails MI6’s headquarters with his goons, seeking THEIA’s core, even stabbing Moneypenny in the process. While Isola escapes, Bond battles Damien in a tense fight, which leads to the duo falling into the water and drowning. Bond survives thanks to Isola, who came back to help him before leaving with the core.

Which brings us to the conclusion. Webb is given a full ceremony, the public unaware of his actions, but with all charges dropped against Bond, he’s now free to pursue Isola. And scene.

So right off the bat, the current story is wrapped up. Webb and Damien are defeated, but Isola has her own plans, which had nothing to do with revenge. She was explicitly after HYPERION’s core, and when that fell through, her objective changed to stealing THEIA’s instead. It wouldn’t be surprising if she had to go after both, but why?

M remarks at the end that there’s an “unseen hand operating in the shadows, playing a game we know nothing about,” and that the possibility keeps her up at night. Right away, the theory is that it’s the infamous SPECTRE. The global organization is heavy into crime, remaining a thorn in Bond’s side in the novels and films. It’s all under the purview of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who, along with other members like Dr No and Emilio Largo, isn’t mentioned in First Light.

It’s possible that IO Interactive didn’t want to give away any hints, though it’s more likely to be keeping things understated in case a sequel doesn’t happen. Even if the group isn’t named SPECTRE, their motivation would fit right in with coveting the supercomputer cores for themselves. After all, in the older films, it effectively spurred conflict between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, all while waiting in the wings to pounce on whoever is left standing.

Even with their flaws, HYPERION and THEIA could help to predict various scenarios that SPECTRE could then exploit for their own benefit. If it indeed follows Blofield’s philosophy in From Russia With Love, then Bond may find himself trying to apprehend and stop the organization before it triggers a war.

Where Isola will stand in all this, especially because SPECTRE is a group that punishes disloyalty with death, should make for an interesting dynamic on top of everything else. And then there’s Damien – if being crushed by pipes wasn’t enough to stop him, who’s to say that drowning ultimately did? We could see IOI bringing him back as a nemesis for Bond until Blofield – or this mysterious group’s head – takes center stage. We also never really learn what happened to Moneypenny, who isn’t really shown in the aftermath of the MI6 attack.

Overall, 007 First Light accomplishes what it set out to do by creating a compelling origin story for Bond, introducing new fans to the character, crafting this entire world of espionage, and essentially completing his induction into the 00 ranks. He’s still not the worldweary, mostly unflappable Bond that we’ve come to know from movies and Fleming’s books, but if a sequel gets greenlit, there’s more than enough emotional runway to cover before then.

Even if it reportedly cost $140 million to develop (not including marketing), and the team has yet to break even based on current sales, this is a fantastic start, especially since post-launch content is coming.

We’ve been singing the praises of First Light since launch, whether for the stealth, combat or storytelling. Many will also point to the character himself – iconic, recognizable and possessing near-universal charismatic appeal. But it’s easy to forget how much of a non-factor Bond has been for the longest time in the wider world.

In the cinematic space, No Time to Die was released in 2021, and there hasn’t been a new movie ever since. Amazon MGM Studios acquired the rights to the franchise in February 2025, and auditions are ongoing for the next Bond. But when it comes to video games, the desolation is much more severe.

The last game to feature Bond was Cypher 007 for mobiles in 2020, but there hadn’t been a new title for consoles and PC since 007 Legends in 2012. That’s almost 14 years between games. But why?

Well, part of it has to do with the fact that from 2006 to 2013, everyone’s favorite publisher, Activision, had the rights to the franchise and churned out the absolute worst 007 games ever. There was 007 Quantum of Solace in 2008, which received mixed reviews across every single platform for leaning too heavily on gunplay and not featuring any driving. Bond was a blunt tool in every sense of the word, except he wasn’t even throwing hands, and for a game so focused on shooting, the cover mechanics were not great.

But that’s alright – if Treyarch and Beenox couldn’t deliver a good Bond game, then clearly Bizarre Creations could! Yes, instead of a new Project Gotham Racing or Geometry Wars, the studio delivered James Bond 007: Blood Stone. But despite praise for the presentation, characters and music – major components of any 007 story – it fell short in every single gameplay way that mattered. At least we got Blur in the same year.

Then we arrive at 007 Legends, developed by Eurocom, and easily the worst Bond game ever made. The concept wasn’t that bad – celebrating the character’s 50th anniversary by playing through levels based on his major cinematic eras. Not a bad idea at all, if everything worked properly and it actually delivered a compelling story, strong level design, or varied gameplay. But it didn’t. Not even close.

Then there’s the whole sordid history of the post-GoldenEye titles. Activision’s GoldenEye 007 in 2010 was a decent reimagining of the N64 classic, but only just (and performance was nothing to write home about). Back in 2004, when Electronic Arts held the license, it opted for its own GoldenEye title called Rogue Agent, which had nothing to do with Rare’s classic. It also had nothing to do with the movie, strangely enough, and was just a completely unfun experience all around. Not as bad as Legends, mind you, but the fact that it was parading the GoldenEye name did it no favors.

Which isn’t to say that EA completely bungled the IP – despite Rogue Agent, 007 Racing and Tomorrow Never Dies, it also delivered some strong entries in the form of The World is Not Enough, Everything or Nothing and Nightfire. The latter two went on to become some of the best original Bond titles in gaming, stepping out from GoldenEye’s shadow, even if they couldn’t quite live up to its legacy.

But there’s no denying that Rare’s masterpiece loomed over the franchise as a whole. Some developers, like Black Ops Entertainment, were so hung up on surpassing it that they outscoped Tomorrow Never Dies, focusing too much on skiing segments that weren’t even in the movie, instead of presenting an all-around quality game. And while the GoldenEye reimagining could be viewed as cashing in on a known quantity, Activision was really under no obligation to do justice to the franchise. It was the era of cashing in regardless of quality, if the sheer amount of awful games from licensed properties wasn’t an indication.

First Light ultimately succeeds not just because of IO Interactive’s strong stealth fundamentals, but also by weaving Hitman’s multi-faceted approach into some missions. It’s also because the studio understood its limitations, knowing that these things wouldn’t be enough to properly capture James Bond, much less tell the story it wanted to tell. To that end, it took a completely different narrative approach, hired developers skilled in other features such as driving sequences, and examined a range of 007 media to deliver the ultimate James Bond video game.

And honestly, its release couldn’t have happened at a better time because, for all intents and purposes, this is a clean slate for the character, mirroring his current situation in films. The self-contained story exploring Bond’s origins created the perfect opportunity to introduce a whole new generation to 007. Obviously, a video game approach can’t really translate to other media, and yet, I’d be surprised if Amazon wasn’t paying attention to Bond’s depiction in First Light and the atmosphere as a whole. It has all the ingredients of a modern spy thriller – the set pieces, the quieter moments, the character development, the gorgeous vistas – with the suave confidence that befits 007.

So yes, while the lack of quality James Bond titles in almost 14 years is certainly a major factor, as is the character’s fame in general, how his adventure ultimately plays out is the key to First Light’s success. IO Interactive didn’t just set out to create a great action-adventure title for the Uncharted fans who – let’s be honest – have been starving for almost as long.

Nor did it design a 007 adventure meant purely for long-time fans. In the same vein, it didn’t try to just appeal to fans of its Hitman series. Instead, it had a vision for combining all of these and much more into a satisfying package, even if that meant sparing no expense to have everything that made Bond, Bond. The signature opening, a title track by a famous artist (and in this case, someone who wanted to make a film track but couldn’t), absolutely stunning fidelity from top to bottom, immaculately designed levels, brutal CQC that would make Daniel Craig proud, an unprecedented level of detail to everything – who knew walking through Q’s lab and stressing out his employees could be so fun? – the list goes on.

Without going into spoilers, it’s clear that IOI’s journey with 007 is only just beginning, even if it’s yet to lock down work on a sequel. Whether it ultimately happens or not, one thing is for sure – James Bond, in all his glory, is finally back in the video game world, with First Light standing side by side with GoldenEye as the premier 007 experience. All we can truly hope for now is that it doesn’t take another six or seven years to continue this new legacy.

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.

But we’ve got 007 First Light now. And it’s very, very good. Early impressions have already called it the best Bond game since GoldenEye, and there’s even talk of it being the best Bond game ever. But can the two titles really be compared? Should they?

We’d say yes, as they’re both quite relevant to Bond’s presence in gaming, even though First Light is a third-person narrative-focused title that’s vastly different from the N64 shooter that GoldenEye aimed to bring to us. But where the latter turned the 007 brand into a great shooter, First Light has used it to create a modern classic that shapes up as a more complete Bond adventure on the whole.

Why do we say that? We’re happy to explain.

The Complete Bond Fantasy

It’s a good idea to consider what GoldenEye did for Bond video games back in the late ‘90s. That was a time when James Bond was known either for his iconic films or perhaps Ian Fleming’s novels, on which the said films were based. As such, the game brought a classic spy experience to the table, with mission objectives, guns, gadgets, a sort of stealth-lite mission design, and, of course, the chaos of split-screen multiplayer.

It was a formula that worked very well at the time, considering that Bond hadn’t been put into a video game that had continuity with the films, which immediately made GoldenEye an attractive option for fans while remaining a potent shooter for those who weren’t as enthusiastic about the character. But things have changed in the twenty-nine years since it was released.

That’s where First Light comes in. It brings a better-realized stealth system to a more open-ended mission design in which melee combat, cinematic escapes, spy craft that uses Bond’s natural charisma and his talent for infiltration, set-pieces, and a whole lot of the signature spectacle we’ve come to expect from the IP, all packed into a narrative that lands quite well. Where its more popular predecessor sold the illusion of Bond with a gun pretty well, this one is turned to make you feel like Bond across a wider variety of circumstances.

It’s also important to consider that GoldenEye was tied to its eponymous film, while First Light has the advantage of being a fully independent story. IO Interactive has made full use of that distinction, giving us a version of Bond who is younger, more reckless, and impulsive, and in the very early stages of his journey to the 007 moniker. That’s important as it immediately sets itself apart from a title that was a film adaptation in video game format.

First Light has more freedom to weave in a strong cast of characters who are both familiar and fresh, making it a unique take on James Bond that GoldenEye cannot match up to today. It presents a take on Bond that’s based on a fulfilling character arc as opposed to merely retelling one of his adventures.

There’s more to that distinction than what we’ve discussed, and comparing the two titles on how they frame Bond is an important part of any comparison between them.

A Modern Bond Blockbuster

Take a look at critical analyses of First Light, and you’re going to see a common theme unfolding before you: the fact that it feels like a blockbuster Bond story wrapped up in a very solid video game. It’s a game that understands that Bond is more than an expert marksman who guns down opponents in well-lit corridors. It makes him the first draft of a very polished operative who oozes charisma and class as he goes about his duties for MI6.

In essence, Bond is a man who isn’t afraid to deviate from his mission plans if the situation demands it, and he does so with an elegance and grace that makes even the most impossible feats look easy. He does it all in style, and First Light is a title that presents that facet of the main man so well that it transcends anything that has come before it in this niche of the gaming world.

One important aspect that sets it apart from GoldenEye is the way in which combat is handled in the game. Bond can use his fists and is quite brutal when things go south, as are his enemies. Fights in First Light are a sight to behold, no matter your level of skill at chaining attacks between multiple enemies. Your Licence to Kill isn’t a given, but is rather a last resort to be used only when the enemies around you escalate things to present a credible threat to your life.

That’s an aspect of the experience that is so crucial to a Bond game feeling like one, and is one area where First Light definitely takes the win over GoldenEye. Where the older title felt like we were controlling Bond on a mission, while First Light has made us feel like we’re Bond in a movie that’s exploring the early chapters of his illustrious career at MI6.

But of course, GoldenEye’s influence and legacy cannot be written off as a mere coincidence. Its cultural impact is something that the new game cannot replicate overnight. Aside from decades of nostalgia backing it up, alongside the fact that it’s been a defining experience for video games featuring Bond, it also raised the bar for shooters and multiplayer games in general. It’s definitely a game that’s rare, and the reverence it continues to enjoy is well-earned.

First Light could get there in time, but that kind of legacy is hard to build in the relatively short time that it’s been on the metaphorical shelves. It might be a better Bond game overall, but only time can tell if it grows into the most important one there is. Is that a possibility, considering just how beloved GoldenEye has managed to be over the years? Stick with us and allow us to present a case for why that’s definitely on the cards.

The Real Winner

If you look at which one of the two games is an objectively better Bond experience, there’s a clear winner. First Light gives good old James more than just his guns. It lets him pull off beat-downs that come with the brutality that’s taken for granted in his line of work. It gives him all the room he needs to improvise once he’s in a mission area, letting him use his spy skills to the fullest in a way that feels like it was all your idea.

You could just chase down the first lead you find and end up at your objective, but the real joy is in taking the time to relish each mission and find all the different ways to earn your badge at MI6. Of course, the presentation is an important talking point with the visuals and cinematic polish working very well to sell the experience, the blockbuster pacing and orchestral score working so darn well to keep you on your toes.

But perhaps the most important way First Light becomes the definitive Bond experience is in the way it explores the character and his supporting cast. Bond isn’t just a character model moving through elaborate levels on the way to his next objective or climactic boss battle. He’s a real man with real insecurities who is on his way to becoming a name that’s going to reverberate through the history of his workplace, although he’s young and carefree enough not to see it yet. It humanizes him while still letting him be a capable and often incomparable protagonist, one who doesn’t hesitate to seize the initiative in any given moment.

GoldenEye might have been the best Bond game for 1997, but First Light is the best Bond game for 2026 and beyond, as it makes Bond human while also giving us a glimpse of the suave secret agent who grows into a living legend. And in doing so, it has set itself up for success. But if we were to pick a winner, we’d say it’s the lot of us who are sitting pretty. First Light might just change conversations about future Bond games, gradually edging out GoldenEye as a bar against which future efforts are measured.

In doing so, it’s given us players a new point of reference for a Bond game, and a new benchmark for others to try and live up to. The future is bright for Mr. Bond, and we can’t wait to see if we get to join him again on his rise to infamy within MI6’s ranks.

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.