Behind the scenes of 007 First Light: “Blockbuster quality”

007 First Light is the next chapter in the James Bond video game saga, and based on everything that’s been revealed so far, it looks glorious. Combining high-stakes stealth with fast-paced action, the March 2026 title is looking unmissable for fans of spy games. 

I got the chance to chat with Theuns Smit, senior licensing producer from IO Interactive, while at MCM London Comic Con this October, getting a glimpse behind the curtain to look at all things 007 First Light.

The Escapist recaps

• 007 First Light is an upcoming James Bond game that places players in the shoes of a brand new Bond, set to come out on March 27, 2026.
• I sat down with Theuns Smit, Senior Licensing Producer from IO Interactive, to discuss the upcoming game at MCM London Comic Con this October.
• Theuns described the process of working on the game as challenging but fantastic, saying that the team had been excited to work on the Bond franchise from the get-go.
• He described the difference between the “breathing in and breathing out” sections of the game, ranging from more linear moments to segments that’ll be more open to interpretation and player creativity.
• There should be plenty for both long-time Bond fans and newer players to enjoy with 007 First Light, as it’s a brand new take on the iconic agent.

A wholly new direction for the legendary agent

007 First Light is set to come out on March 27, 2026, and based on everything that’s been revealed so far, it looks like it’s going to be a hell of a lot of fun to play. 

I wondered what the 007 First Light journey had been like for the IO Interactive team so far, with launch day on the horizon. Despite the usual game development challenges, Theuns described the process of working on the game as being great, with plenty of creative freedom.

“The whole team has been, from the get-go, very excited about this,” He shared, “With IO Interactive, there’s a really rich history in the kind of agent fantasy experience, but once the opportunity came along to work on Bond, we grabbed it with open arms…

There’s so much emotion involved, there’s so much excitement; there’s so much joy of bringing this to life, you know. So yeah, just all positives.”

Adding to a franchise – particularly one with such a legacy – doesn’t seem like an easy task as an observer, to put it incredibly mildly. Theuns described the process of beginning the project as being story-driven, saying the first step was figuring out what the story they wanted to tell was.

“At its core, the game we have with 007 First Light is a third-person, story-driven action-adventure game,” He noted, “From the beginning, it was very important for us that we wanted to tell a new story, wholly original… from the ground up.”

This fresh start was why the reimagining of Bond’s origin story felt like such a good fit for the team. Players will go on the journey alongside Bond and see him earn his number, in contrast to other stories where the agent is already established. 

“That reimagining is what gives us some creative liberties to go into areas that haven’t been explored before,” Theuns explained, “Usually, the Bond you know he’s already a bit established. He’s got his martinis, his swanky tuxedos, you know, all of that.

But the Bond you’re going to be in First Light, he still hasn’t been hardened by the harsh realities that the world brings.”

On the topic of the world, the game world that 007 First Light promises seems to be a big highlight based on the snippets that’ve been shown off; I wondered whether there was a particular area of the map that Theuns was excited to see the fan reaction to.

“I think it’s the whole journey, honestly,” He mused, “There’s quite a few surprises that the players are in for… there’s some narrative tidbits that we’ve been breadcrumbing here and there, but there’s a really expansive story that we’re excited for players to engage with.”

Theuns described the approach to gameplay as a breathing in and out experience; some parts will be more action-driven, focused on moving the momentum along, with grand spectacle moments.

Others will take place in more expansive areas, where players can focus on how they want to play Bond – do they want to use his brain, his charm, his gadgets? There’ll be a variety of paths for players to take when exploring these more open segments. 

“Bond himself is an improviser, right?” Theuns added, describing the style of play, “So he needs to think quick on his feet, no matter what scenario he finds himself in.” 

Music is always a big part of the James Bond franchise, with its grand opening songs and adrenaline-fuelled cinematic scores. Theuns praised the incredible composers, artists, and audio team working on 007 First Light, highlighting how integral the music will be to the overall player experience. 

“As a whole, really, just blockbuster quality is what we’re aiming for,” He summarized. 

Based on my chat with Theuns, it’s safe to say that 007 First Light will be a delight for players to experience. It’s being made by a team who truly loves the franchise – Theuns’ favorite Bond is Craig, by the way – and the experience that the game promises should have something for every kind of Bond fan to tear through. 

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References

1. 007 First Light on Steam (Steam Store)
2. Home (ioi)