After announcing their plans to develop a James Bond game over 5 years ago, IO Interactive has finally revealed the first gameplay trailer for the highly anticipated007 First Light. With the story seemingly focusing on a younger version of the titular protagonist,007 First Lighthas the perfect chance to explore the mysterious origins of the secret agent with a brand-new direction for the series. Although details about its gameplay have been scarce so far, the trailer finally offered a glimpse at what we can expect to see in its full release.
Theoriginal007 First Lightteaseralready gave some impressions of the direction the explosive new James Bond entry will take for the series, but I didn’t expect such an action-packed trailer right out of the gate. After years of waiting,007 First Lightmight finally deliver on the untapped potential the franchise has been holding back over the years. Although there are plenty of reasons to be excited aboutFirst Light’s release in 2026, its ambitious premise needs a strong start to kick off the new franchise.
10A Full Launch Rather Than An Episodic Release
Proper Marketing Is Essential For 007 First Light’s Success
Given the greater narrative focus that007 First Lightis likely to offer, there’s thankfully a much lower chance of IO Interactives' past launch decisions having too much of an effect on the new series. Even with its popularity,Hitman’s episodic release schedule,confusing editions, and strange DLC choices made theHitmanseries difficult to get into for new players.
Ensuring a smooth launch without any issues is the first step towards success.
Despite how belovedHitman’s gameplay still remains, its marketing choices were poorly received at best and off-putting to many, with007 First Lightbeing the perfect opportunity to mark a change for the series. IfHitman’s developers want to create theperfect James Bond gameto start a new-generational franchise, ensuring a smooth launch without any issues is the first step towards success.
9A Unique Selection Of Spy Gadgets To Use For Emergencies
The Right Tools Can Be The Difference Between Life And Death
Aside from his charismatic nature and incredible combat skills,James Bond wouldn’t be the same without his array of incredibly unique and versatile gadgets. From explosive pens to the laser-firing watches that seem to already be included in007 First Light's trailer, the sky is the limit for what the inventors at MI6 have prepared for the legendary spy.
Thankfully,IO Interactive already has experience offering a wide array of unique gadgets to use in theHitmanseries, even if it’s hard to picture James Bond throwing explosive rubber ducks at these foes. Even with the more comedic options aside, from lockpicking toothpicks to tranquilizer dart cigarettes,007 First Lightis the perfect opportunity to take the gadgets in the same unconventional directions you would expect from the series.
8References & Easter Eggs To Other Entries In The Franchise
The 007 Series Has Countless Potential For Respectful Callbacks
IO Interactive is infamous for the number of Easter eggs they manage to fit into theHitmanseries, ranging from small film throwbacks to entire cutscenes referencing and even parodying popular franchises. While there are plenty of opportunities to reference various media from iconic films or games,it wouldn’t be a Bond title without at least a few callbacks to previous entries in the series.
Signing up with an IOI account will also unlock the “On Duty” and “Gilded Wraith” skins for 007 inFirst Light, being more than a little familiar for fans of the series.
Whether in the form of weapons, outfits, or other simple nods to the franchise that started it all, it would almost be harder not to include Easter eggs for fans of the series to discover.Even ifFirst Lightwants to distance itself from past entries,IO Interactive has offered their own complex and rewarding Easter eggs for the community to solve in the past.
7A Well-Rounded And Refined Combat System
Combat Abilities Are A Necessary Asset For A Spy Master’s Toolkit
One of the reasons IO Interactive was chosen to take up the007mantle after a 14-year absence was their ability to find sophisticated solutions rather than relying on the full-blownaction sequences of previous entries.Even with007 First Lighttaking a less combat-oriented approach to the series, it still needs a more refined combat system to match up to its expectations, especially given how prevalent combat seems to be inFirst Light’s latest reveal trailer.
First Lightwill need a much more complicated melee combat system compared toHitman’s simple quick-time button mashing.
Although Bond’s nature as a spy encourages subtlety, that doesn’t stop the series from delivering fantastic action setpieces, ranging from intense gunfights, bombastic chase sequences, or tense melee brawls similar to theUnchartedfranchise. To redefine the007franchise in the modern era,First Lightwill need a much more complicated melee combat system compared toHitman’s simplified mechanics.
6It Wouldn’t Be Bond Without Iconic Chase Sequences
Offering An Action-Packed Way To Break Up Setpieces
Another favorite staple of theJames Bondfranchise is the climactic chase sequences that find creative ways to spice up the action in between set pieces. Whether it’s skiing down a mountain, a turbulent boat chase, or swerving through crowded streets,007 First Lightwould feel incomplete without incorporating more than the simple car chases teased in the trailer.
It’s hard to imagine an open-world James Bond game being an effective fit for the series or character, but that doesn’t mean scripted chase sequences can’t offer even more exhilarating action. Despite their thematic differences, the iconic car chases inUncharted 4are theperfect inspiration forFirst Light, even if Drake’s ability to survive death-defying odds might be a little more unrealistic than what I would expect for Bond.
5More Interactions With Named NPCs
Companions And Recurring Villains Are Essential To Bond’s Character Development
Each addition to the revolving door ofBondprotagonists wouldn’t feel complete without a solid supporting cast of characters to interact with. From his allies like Q and other agents from MI6, all the way to his various love interests,007 First Lightcan’t afford to have Bond be another solo agent like in theHitmanseries.
007 First Lightcan’t afford to have Bond be another solo agent like in theHitmanseries.
Thankfully, the first trailer for007 First Lightseems to offer an exciting glimpse at some characters that will grow alongside Bond, that will hopefully be fleshed out throughout the story, much like howIndiana Jones: And The Great Circleincorporates the concept into its narrative. Although cutscenes and scripted segments could suffice, it wouldn’t do much to setFirst Lightapart from the game that came before it.
4Some Forms Of Multiplayer Functionality
Offering Significantly More Replayability For The Series
Even if full-scale multiplayer would likely be a massive and risky undertaking for IO Interactive, some of the best games in the series are well known for their fun-filled multiplayer.There are plenty of ways to incorporate multiplayer without breakingFirst Light's lore, as PvP matches against players could fit in as training exercises, or having rival agencies competing to complete a mission first.
Some of the best games in the series are well known for their fun-filled multiplayer.
Even if007 First Lightdoesn’t have direct multiplayer capabilities, it could still incorporate elements of theHitmanseries with player-designed missions and stories to experiment with.It’s hard to imagine that IO Interactive would completely abandon all of their sandbox mechanics from their success in theHitmanseries, but multiplayer could be a great way to add more replayability as a replacement.
3A Brand-New Villain To Compete With The Franchise’s Iconic Offerings
007 First Light Needs An Iconic Bond Villain More Than Ever
All the best Bond films have several aspects in common, but one that helps each film to stand out from the rest is its iconic villains. From the cunning Blofeld, psychopathic Goldfinger, or intimidating giants like Jaws, the right villain can be the difference between an instant classic and a serviceable story experience.
The right villain can be the difference between an instant classic and a serviceable story experience.
Thankfully, there’s no short list of talented voice actors that could deliver an incredibly iconic Bond villain performance for007 First Light, but the game will still need a great villain to face off against in the first place.WithFirst Lightaiming to be an origin story for a new franchise, there is plenty of potential in having them intertwined in Bond’s backstory, incorporating elements of betrayal with a more nuanced villain.
2Alternate Methods Of Completing 007’s Missions
Player Freedom Is One Of IO Interactive’s Greatest Strengths
Even if it’s been over a decade since the last official007game, that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of room for improvement over the expected formula. Rather than an entirely linear storyline,007 First Lightcould take yet another page out ofHitman’s book by providing branching paths to completing a mission.
007 First Lightcould take yet another page out ofHitman’s book by providing branching paths to completing a mission.
Not only would multiple ways to accomplish the same objective take advantage of IO Interactive’s greatest strengths, but it would also add more replayability to the linear story. From asocial subterfuge, silent heists, or full-blown gunfights,each opportunity could show a different side of 007’s greatest strengths.
1An Offering Similar To Hitman 3’s Freelancer Mode
Providing Unique Ways To Experience First Light’s Exciting Gameplay Loop
Even if the gameplay loops for007 First Lightand theHitmanseries end up being drastically different from each other,any offering that adds more replayability outside the main story would be a welcome inclusion. Given the similarities between the global missions Agent 47 and 007 embark on, it wouldn’t be a far cry to include a similar mode inFirst Light.
Taking the well-designed levels of Hitman and mixing them up with randomly generated targets felt like a perfect way to freshen up the sandbox experience, makingHitman 3’s Freelancer mode my go-to way to revisit the game. With IO Interactivepromising more James Bond gamesif007 First Lightis successful, I could easily see exciting new game modes making an appearance in future entries.
