During Tokyo Game Show 2026, IO Interactive introduced their approach to shaping young Bond in "007 First Light" and confirmed that the Switch 2 version is undergoing final adjustments. This version is scheduled for release in March 2027.
H2 INTERACTIVE brought the Switch 2 version to the Happinet booth, offering a demo of approximately the first 15 minutes of the game, along with a life-sized statue of Bond. The title is available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2, with other versions already released. IO Interactive Global Brand Manager Laurine Deschamps and Executive Technical Producer Cristina Vega were also present for interviews.
This title has official authorization from the "007" series, but its story is entirely original and not directly related to the novels or films. The protagonist is a 27-year-old James Bond who has just left the Navy and knows little about MI6. Players will accompany him on missions, learn spy skills, and gradually earn his "License to Kill" and the "007" designation, without needing prior knowledge of the series' storyline.
Deschamps stated that team members' favorite Bonds span multiple eras, from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, and developing a Bond game has long been their wish. She believes this passion, recognized by the rights holders, was a key reason for the project's approval. As the developer of the "Hitman" series, IO also brings its design experience of solving objectives through multiple methods into this title.
The game progresses along a main storyline while allowing players to choose different approaches, including gunfights, stealth, car chases, close-quarters combat, deceiving enemies through dialogue, and eavesdropping to gather intelligence. The team also梳理ed iconic elements such as Bond's appearance, equipment, driving, and romantic history from the series' 60-plus years of history, hoping players can also gain trust through conversation and enter target locations openly. The game features a unique combat system used only when the "License to Kill" is authorized.
Young Bond is portrayed by Patrick Gibson. Deschamps explained that this character has not yet witnessed the coldness of the spy world; he is hopeful about the future but also immature, needing to grow alongside the player. The team repeatedly discussed the character model's hairstyle and facial features and considered multiple actors before unanimously selecting Gibson.
Physical brand collaborations are also part of the character building. In addition to cars and watches provided by Q, the team designed an Omega watch for the game, which Vega said was later produced as a real-world model. Triumph also expressed interest in the MI6-style motorcycle bag featured in the game, hoping to produce a physical version.
Discussing the influence of previous titles, Vega stated that "007: GoldenEye" was very popular within the team, but this game does not deliberately mimic it nor distance itself from it. From the start, the team aimed to create an action-adventure game showcasing spy skills and growth. Deschamps also revealed that the game's shipments have exceeded 4 million copies.
Regarding the previous delay of the Switch 2 version, Vega explained that the overall workload was substantial, and the team decided to delay the release to ensure quality. There are no differences in content across the various platform versions. Deschamps stated that the Switch 2 version uses the Glacier engine and is currently undergoing hardware-specific optimization and final adjustments, with the goal of providing an experience equivalent to other platforms.