It’s kind of hard to believe we haven’t had a proper Bond game since Rare’s GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo 64. So, when a new Bond game was announced, it was only fitting that Hitman developer IO Interactive was the one taking up the mantle. Dubbed ‘007: First Light,’ IO Interactive’s upcoming third-person adventure takes us back to where it all began for our beloved MI6 agent, retelling Bond’s origin with a brand new story, cinematic action and the studio’s own unique take on who he really is. If you watched IO’s first gameplay reveal of 007: First Light, you’d be forgiven for thinking it follows the same Hitman formula.
However, that’s far from it. 007: First Light might share the studio’s signature level design and stealth-meets-action gameplay, but it promises to be a full-fledged Bond adventure that’s part stylish, part compelling and 100% its own. So, here we’ll talk about five reasons why 007: First Light isn’t a Hitman game in disguise.
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You can chuck your firearm at enemies like a makeshift projectile weapon
Perhaps the most Bond-esque and un-Hitman-like gameplay mechanic in 007: First Light is the ability to literally throw your empty weapons at enemies when things start to go sideways. If Bond’s magazine runs dry, as a last-ditch move, you can fling your pistol at an approaching enemy or even use whatever’s around you (things like bottles, chairs, or anything within reach) as makeshift weapons. And if there’s a rifle on the ground, you can stylishly kick-flip it into your hands and continue the fight. These new mechanics perfectly fit 007: First Light’s “younger and more off-the-rails” version of Bond, who’s always thinking on his feet.
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Activate “License to Kill” to get the job done
One of the things that makes 007: First Light feel more like a James Bond game than Hitman is its “License to Kill” system. When a fight reaches a point where enemies clearly want you dead, the License to Kill UI will pop up, which gives Bond, well, the license to kill. Basically, this mode lets you combine guns, melee, gadgets, and environmental moves all in one go and you can even use Bond’s arsenal of creative gadgets to confuse attackers, throw empty weapons and if the level allows, even knock enemies off ledges.
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You can use Instinct to outsmart enemies
Instinct in 007: First Light is basically Bond’s natural quick thinking turned into gameplay. In a nutshell, it is a “spend-and recharge” mechanic that charges up as you take down enemies, perform objectives, or interact with the world around you and it lets you handle situations in ways Agent 47 never could. With Instinct, you can do things like lure a guard in for a stealth takedown, bluff your way past someone who’s getting suspicious, or slow down time during a gunfight to line up the perfect shot. Unlike Hitman, where being spotted usually requires you to fight or flee, Instinct lets Bond stay stealthy and adaptable.
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Gadgets in 007: First Light give you more ways to play
Bond’s selection of gadgets in 007: First Light gives him unparalleled control over every encounter. Unlike Hitman, where the bulk of the gear is built for clean kills, Bond’s gadgetry offers both lethal and non-lethal choices, letting you go about missions however you see fit. His classic spy watch can hack electronics, blind enemies, or even stun them with a laser. You’ll have access to a bunch of other Bond gadgets like smoke bombs, knockout darts, tasers, among others. Moreover, as you work your way through missions, you’ll unlock more contraptions that allow you to hack a camera to clear a path, use your laser to cut through a locked door, or distract a guard just long enough for you to get by.
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Vehicle missions and Spycraft
It wouldn’t be a Bond game without getting behind the wheel of flashy cars, racing through exotic locales, threading through traffic, and pulling off stunts and IO Interactive has dialled up the spectacle with over-the-top vehicle missions, cinematic set pieces, and high-octane action. However, there’s more to Bond than fast cars and chaos. 007: First Light features an innovative
Spycraft mechanic that gives you tools for the subtler side of the job. With Spycraft, you can eavesdrop on conversations for intel, steal a keycard from a distracted guard, or piece together clues from the surroundings that others might miss.
From whatever little we’ve seen so far, 007: First Light seems to be nailing the kind of big-screen energy you’d expect from a Bond game and IO Interactive is working hard to deliver the triple-A 007 experience that’s been missing for a long time. 007: First Light will release on March 27, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
