James Bond's '007 First Light' Is Already The Spy Video Game I've Sorely Missed

"Hitman developer IO Interactive was given the reins for a new James Bond video game, and the result already looks like one of 2026's most exciting releases. A 36-minute presentation of 007 First Light provided a first look at how the Copenhagen-based studio is reimagining pop culture's most enduring spy for modern consoles, and it's got it all: stealth, fisticuffs, shootouts, and even the ability to use Bond's silver tongue to escape sticky situations."

"The spy game was once a mainstay, and it's easy to understand why. When seemingly every action game put you in the shoes of a "shoot first, ask questions later"-style commando, it became a novelty for games to let you take a more thoughtful approach. Giving the player a handful of situational skills and gadgets was much more interesting than handing them an AK-47 and telling them to clear the screen."

"Hideo Kojima's stealth action series wasn't the only game to define the subgenre. 1997's now-legendary shooter is mostly remembered for its competitive multiplayer modes, but it also deserves credit for delivering on the fantasy of being an MI6 agent behind enemy lines, completing impossible missions. Developer Rare would perfect this formula with 2000's Perfect Dark, an underrated N64 classic that improved on Bond's beloved video game in every way imaginable."

007 First Light from IO Interactive emphasizes stealth, fisticuffs, shootouts, and persuasive dialogue options as core gameplay pillars. The game modernizes the James Bond fantasy for current consoles while prioritizing situational tools and player choice. Spy games historically offered thoughtful, gadget-driven approaches that contrasted with run-and-gun action shooters. Early titles like Metal Gear set the stealth blueprint, and later entries such as GoldenEye and Perfect Dark refined the MI6-agent fantasy and mission design. The spy-action subgenre flourished through the 2000s and then became underrepresented, making a high-profile Bond release a notable revival.

Read at Inverse