IO Interactive shared an in-depth look at 007 First Light’s gameplay during Sony’s State of Play livestream on Wednesday, showcasing its stealth-action gameplay and mission design. The Hitman developer also announced a release date for the James Bond action-adventure game. “007 First Light” will launch on PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X and Nintendo Switch 2 on March 27, 2026. The game is now available for pre-order on supported storefronts.
007 First Light gameplay
At State of Play, IO Interactive showed off over 30 minutes of 007 First Light gameplay, including the player’s first mission as a young Bond for MI6. The mission is a lot like a Hitman level, with Bond sneaking into a high-security hotel in Slovakia before things go awry, ending in a high-speed car chase.
There’s an explosive shootout on an airstrip, and then Bond punches his enemies in a plane about to take off, Mission: Impossible -style. He then jumps out of the plane without a parachute in a scene reminiscent of Uncharted 3.
IO Interactive also showed off a second espionage mission during the State of Play livestream, with Bond tracking an assassin at a party in London. This mission showcases the various stealth options available to players when infiltrating heavily guarded areas. Bond will have access to his watch, which can scan his surroundings for clues and serve as a versatile tool for a variety of covert operations that can help players avoid direct confrontation with enemies.
Players can also tap into Bond’s instincts, which slow down time and help focus on enemies and the environment to find weak points. The second mission also details hand-to-hand combat scenarios when stealth is no longer an option. Bond can grab and throw enemies, punch and parry, and perform environmental attacks.
007 In “Light of Dawn”, secrecy is better than confrontation
Image source: IO Interactive
Pre-order details, available versions
In a PlayStation blog post, IOI stated that Dawn of Dawn will be an open-ended experience, allowing players to complete missions the way they want, much like the Hitman games. The studio calls it a “creative approach” in which players can use Bond’s spy skills, instincts, gadgets and combat prowess to complete objectives. In addition to stealth-oriented mission gameplay, the game will feature multiple driving sequences.
“007 Dawn” will be launched in the standard version. After pre-ordering, players will receive 24-hour early access rights, four sets of exclusive costumes and other in-game rewards. The game will also be available in Pro and traditional physical editions, which include additional benefits. Digital pre-orders for the game are available on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation and Xbox storefronts.
