IO Interactive had a lot to show off today at the Sony State of Play presentation that was dedicated to its next project, 007 First Light. The Hitman developer gave a look at how this version of Bond, who has not yet earned the 007 moniker, behaves, offering an original story that reveals the origin of the iconic character.
Featuring the likeness of Patrick Gibson (Dexter: Original Sin), James Bond is shown going on an undercover mission during today"s gameplay reveal. Alongside Hitman-style blending in, gathering essential tools, and eavesdropping mechanics, Bond is able to smooth-talk out of henchmen"s reach here or simply take them out swiftly. High-tech gadgets from Q are also here to help out with the mission, letting players hack, crack, lockpick, distract, and more using them.
It"s not long before the gameplay switches to the action side of things. It certainly looked more like a Mission Impossible movie at times than a James Bond story here. The studio says that missions can be completed in multiple ways, letting players decide when to break cover and go full action hero.
"When enemies escalate to lethal force, Bond is granted his License to Kill, unlocking his expert marksmanship with firearms that can be seamlessly integrated into the flow of action," explains IO Interactive. "This interplay between ranged and melee combat, which integrates Bond’s gadgets, ensures every confrontation feels personal, responsive, and grounded in the 007 fantasy."
There did seem to be many sections where the frame rates were not so high in the gameplay reveal. It"s unclear what sort of hardware the gameplay demo was running on. With six months to go before launch, though, IO Interactive has plenty of time to smooth out any performance issues.
007 First Light is releasing on March 27, 2026, across PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-ordering digitally will get fans access to the game a full 24 hours early without having to pay anything extra, and there are some bonus cosmetics for Bond included as well. Moreover, there is a $300 Legacy Edition that comes with a steelbook case, a golden gun figurine with a stand, a physical copy of the game, and in-game goodies.