007 First Light - Your Guide
Updated: Jun 16
Culture |
What Happened? Bond’s next replacement
We've not seen or heard much about the world's suavest and most famous spy for some time now, with casting for the next film still up in the air, but one thing that is for certain is that the latest James Bond game was finally released, after first being announced in November 2020 - read on to find out what to expect from it.
Plot
Similar to how Daniel Craig's introduction in Casino Royale (2006) brought a brand-new, rebooted version of Bond to the screen, First Light also shows Bond at the very beginning of his career as 007.
According to the official Synopsis
"007 First Light is a third-person action-adventure game that blends IO Interactive’s signature stealth and action gameplay mechanics, featuring a fully original, reimagined origin story of a young James Bond. Players will step into the shoes of a 26-year-old Bond, a promising yet sometimes rebellious Royal Navy air crewman who is recruited into MI6, immersing them in the exotic and dangerous world of espionage."
In the game's trailer, M can be heard describing Bond as "immature and reckless, he's a bad influence on the other recruits who inexplicably fall victim to his charm", and is also later labelled a "rare breed" by an older gentleman; so far, it sounds like some signature characteristics certainly haven't been forgotten.
There are further hints to the plot in the trailer and the synopsis, alluding to a similar storyline from one of the most highly regarded Bond movies, Skyfall, in which an ex-agent causes a lot of trouble for MI6. There is also some potential conflict between Bond and his mentor, something that he is no stranger to with his superiors (as seen in the movies).
"When a mission to stop a rogue agent ends in tragedy, he must join forces with his reluctant mentor Greenway to expose a deep conspiracy and stop a looming coup at the heart of the State."
In true Bond fashion, he won't be restricted to hunting his foes around London, with the guarantee that;
"Bond’s adventures will take players all around the globe, coming face to face with allies and foes while choosing how they overcome obstacles and challenges, whether it be with brute force, cunning guile, or charming wit."
The game will clearly give players the chance to choose their own methods as a spy, whether it's more of the brutal Daniel Craig-type Bond or a more charming and playful Roger Moore-type Bond.
Cast
James Bond (the main man) - voiced by Patrick Gibson, alongside Moneypenny (Bond's trusty accomplice in the field) - voiced by Kiera Lester.
“Seeing yourself as a video game character is one thing, and then seeing yourself as James Bond is kind of even stranger. But also just the likeness, I was kind of taken aback by. I wasn’t fully expecting it to look like me.”
Patrick Gibson
"[on Bond and Moneypenny] Their dynamic treads this line of like, oh, cheekiness, but admiration, there's a lot of respect, but there's still pushback when needed, and yeah, we wanted to honour that."
Kiera Lester
Bawma (a new villain for Bond) - voiced by Lenny Kravitz
"He’s magnetic and unpredictable, there’s danger in him, but also heart and purpose. He’s not just a man with power; he is a man who has to fight for every inch of it."
Lenny Kravitz
Q (Bond's tech-savvy mentor) - voiced by Alastair Mackenzi
"Q was always the cool uncle figure when I was growing up... we see him as a slightly younger man, and we see him as somebody who's experienced in the field. He has to kind of teach Bond how to become an agent, effectively. He's more of a kind of teacher/mentor figure."
Alastair Mackenzi
Selina Tan - voiced by Gemma Chan
"Joining the world of James Bond in video games has been such an exciting experience. Selina Tan is a fascinating character, and I can’t wait for players to meet her. Bringing Selina to life in 007 First Light has been an absolute privilege.”
Gemma Chan
Mystery Character - voiced by DJ Dimitri Vegas
"I’ve been a fan of Bond for as long as I can remember, so stepping into the world of 007 First Light is a real honour. IO Interactive is creating something bold and cinematic, and I can’t wait for players to meet my character and experience the game for themselves.”
DJ Dimitri Vegas
Other cast members include:
M (the one woman who can keep Bond in check) - voiced by Priyanga Burford
Greenway (a new mentor figure for Bond) - voiced by Lennie James
Miss Roth - voiced by Noemie Nakai
Gadgets & Cars
Anyone who's seen Bond will know he has a history with iconic Aston Martin vehicles and gadgets to make his missions even more exciting. First Light will be no different, with the Valhalla supercar featuring:
"The reveal of the Valhalla supercar in 007 First Light marks one of the many steps our team is taking to honour the iconic cars that define the Bond legacy. Cars have always been at the core of the James Bond experience, reflecting his style, ingenuity, and daring personality. With the debut of the Valhalla, players will encounter a machine that embodies that spirit, capturing the excitement of Bond’s world and the timeless elegance of his vehicles."
Abrak, CEO of IO Interactive
The IOI website teases the game's gadgets...
"Where cutting-edge technology meets sleek sophistication. These gadgets capture the world of espionage, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary with a touch of innovative flair."
Q-Watch A Phone Earphones A Lighter Pen
They include the Q-Watch, a Phone, Earphones, a lighter, a pen, and more to be revealed - although these don't sound very interesting as none of the features is listed, these will surely be revealed once within the game...
Gameplay
A video became available in late 2025 offering a look at some scenes from the first 30 minutes of gameplay, including a car chase, fight scenes, and some stealthy moves from Bond:
For PC players, First Light has also been confirmed to be supported by NVIDIA's DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi Frame Generation and DLSS Ray Reconstruction, which essentially boosts the visuals by generating 5 extra frames with AI per real frame, and creates a cleaner-looking game:
Pricing & Editions
There is a range of options available for purchase, with some really cool exclusives available on the Premium physical editions (be prepared for the prices):
Standard Edition
What you get: Base game
Extras / Bonuses: N/A
Physical items: None
Typical UK Price: ~£59.99
Deluxe Edition
What you get: Base game + Bonus content
Extras / Bonuses: Outfits, weapon skin, gadget skins
Physical items: None
Typical UK Price: ~£69.99
Specialist Edition
What you get: Standard + Deluxe + Classic Tux
Extras / Bonuses: Same as Deluxe + exclusive outfit
Physical items: Physical Case
Typical UK Price: ~£59.99
Collector's Edition
What you get: Deluxe content + collectables (mid-tier)
Extras / Bonuses: Same in-game bonuses as Deluxe
Physical items: Lifesize Mask prop replica + Steel Case with Magnet + Certificate of Authenticity
Typical UK Price: ~£169.99
Legacy Edition
What you get: Everything + premium collectables
Extras / Bonuses: Deluxe + Golden Gun skin + Obsidian Gold suit
Physical items: Lifesize Mask prop replica + Steel Case with Magnet + Certificate of Authenticity
Typical UK Price: Golden Gun Figurine (Stand & Secret Compartment) + Steel Case with Magnet + Certificate of Authenticity
Behind the Scenes with the Producers
Marketing Director of IO Interactive's 007 franchise, Jonathan Lacaille, revealed details about Bond's characterisation, and how Q, in this case, an older version, helps Bond out:
"The Bond that we have today is not tuxedo Bond, the classy Bond with the martini and so on. He's young, he's not the suit guy yet. But Q is more the classy gentleman with a lot of taste, and he will teach Bond what he should wear, manners, you know, why he needs to wear a nice watch and things like that."
Hakan Abrak, the CEO and co-owner of IO Interactive, has given insights into the story's unique nature:
"It's very important that we create a digital Bond. A Bond for the gaming industry... So it's a completely original story. This felt really, really important for us, and we conveyed that to [James Bond owner] EON, and they agreed that the result would probably be better doing it like that.
"There's always excitement around a new Bond. It's amazing what they have done with the franchise over the years. Every Bond kind of defines a generation, and it's amazing how they kept reinventing themselves over so many years. So, we're not only inspired by one movie, or games and whatnot. We're inspired by the whole thing, and just sucking things into us to make an original Bond, an original story, but that is absolutely true and recognisable in the values there is in Bond."
It's clear that while honouring the Bond of the past, the makers are looking to create a fresh stamp on the character, introducing new allies and adversaries for Bond to interact with alongside regular characters from the movies, such as M and Moneypenny.
You can hear more from the producers in the videos below.
Final Thoughts
With the game's release just around the corner, soon, fans can finally get their dose of James Bond again after a long hiatus; hopefully, it's been worth the wait… Will you be jumping straight into this new chapter for Bond, and if so, which edition are you going to choose?
Let us know your hype levels for the game!
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