It will be a while before players can take up the mantle of James Bond in IO Interactive’s first foray into the spy world. The Hitman developer has announced a slight delay for 007 First Light, which is now launching on 27 May 2026 instead of 27 March as planned.
As shared in the official announcement post, the two-month pushback is in place for the team to work on refining the experience to “deliver the strongest possible version at launch”. Notably, the new date is a day after the planned release of Grand Theft Auto VI, which has been rescheduled to 19 November 2026.
“007 First Light is our most ambitious project to date, and the team has been fully focused on delivering an unforgettable James Bond experience, bringing together breathtaking action, globe-trotting, spycraft, gadgets, car chases, and more. As an independent developer and publisher, this decision allows us to ensure the experience meets the level of quality you players deserve on day one,” reads the update.
“The game is progressing well and is fully playable from beginning to end, so these additional two months will allow us to further polish and refine the experience, ensuring we deliver the strongest possible version at launch. We’re confident this sets 007 First Light up for long-term success, and we sincerely appreciate the patience and continued support we’ve received ever since we revealed the game. We look forward to sharing more updates regarding 007 First Light in early 2026.”
First unveiled in 2020 under the name Project 007, the upcoming title will feature an original Bond story that focuses on the character’s beginnings. It also marks the first James Bond game in over a decade, with the casting of Patrick Gibson set to be the youngest portrayal of the MI6 agent to date, who is just 26 years old at the beginning of the adventure.
The Dexter: Origin Sin and Shadow and Bone star joins an ensemble cast poised to depict both classic and new characters, including Lennie James as Bond’s mentor, John Greenway; Priyanga Burford as M; Alastair Mackenzie as Q; Kiera Lester as Miss Moneypenny; Noemie Nakai as Miss Roth; Gemma Chan as Selina Tan, MI6’s Head of Tactical Simulation; and Lenny Kravitz as the main villain.
007 First Light releases for PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC on 27 May 2026.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
