We just got our first decent look at 007 First Light with a brand-new State of Play showcase, dedicated to Britain’s most iconic spy.
The showcase took us through a 20-minute mission filled with espionage, stealth and bucket loads of action, complete with a smaller, more guided 10-minute look at how gameplay elements and options will play into your overall approach.
An Elegant Affair
The first segment of the showcase follows James Bond on his very first mission as a recruit, and what we can only assume takes place relatively early on in the game.
Bond is tasked with escorting a group of his superiors to an event that 009, now seemingly turned rogue agent, is attending. What begins as a routine mission sees Bond catching a glimpse of a shifty bellboy, ditching some luggage over the edge of the estate. Bond follows to get a closer look, and we find ourselves assessing the landscape and options.
As Bond is not specifically invited to this event, the main door is off-limits as the unit requires a press pass to get in. Bond can survey the landscape for options, and the game actually tells you how to go about things, and if you’re being watched. Sure, you can jump on that ledge, just not in public.
We see Bond distract some guards to sneak away with a lighter and set a small wheelbarrow of leaves on fire. Drawing onlookers to it, Bond can duck off to the side of the estate and scale its walls, entering the window of the second floor.
We then make our way to the main ballroom, as Bond catches the suspicious target. It’s evident here that Bond can interact with certain people of interest and gain intel with optional dialogue prompts. He can even hack phones and throw small smoke bombs to distract others in the area, thanks to some handy Q tech.
Bond can take up to three gadgets out into the field with him for each mission, and depending on those gadgets, they require battery or chemical resources to be used. Thankfully, these resources can be found in the environment, depending on where you look.
As we get a tail on the target, the game cuts to a car chase. Accompanied by Ms. Roth, an enigmatic French Secret Service agent, you whip away in a mustard yellow Aston Martin V8 Vantage, in an incredibly cinematic series of close calls.
Bond soon finds the abandoned car, which leads to an airstrip. We then see Bond fall into the eyes of some soldiers as he tries to diffuse the situation. The screen flashes with a ‘Licence to Kill’ banner, indicating enemies are using lethal force, and it’s on.
What follows is an action-packed shootout through this airstrip, in which Bond must shoot enemies and explosive barrels alike, while throwing hands and even empty weapons at enemies.
The shootout soon descends into chaos as we see Bond running for the plane, barely making it onto the wing. After making it inside, we even get the chance to hack into the plane’s controls to help with some turbulence as enemies flood in.
Before we can even get our bearings, Bond is sucked out from the back of the plane in free fall, where he must hitch a ride down from some poor unsuspecting grunt. Cut to black. It’s a real thrill and I can’t wait to see how the rest of these missions stack up.
A Deeper Dive
This second segment feels like a more focused and detailed approach, that breaks down more of the gadgets, approaches and stealthier gameplay.
But it’s nice to know that, like the Hitman games, there is an element of player choice and freedom. For example, players can weigh up the odds, but should they wish to, get a little scrappy and loud.
Getting caught by a camera of enemy camera doesn’t even cause you to fail a mission. Bond also has access to a Focus meter. in which he can bluff his way through tense encounters. Bluffing won’t always work depending on the situation, but Bond can also regain Focus by taking out enemies and defusing situations without causing any extra suspicion. But even before things go sour, guards will simply question you and even approach you, for you to get the drop and take them out.
I’m a huge Bond fan, and was really riding high on this to be not only a reinvigoration for the overall franchise, but Bond games in particular. With a pinch of Uncharted and a generous helping of Hitman thrown into the mix, there’s plenty to look forward to.
As a bonus, we even got a release date for the game, which is 27 March 2026. We’ve included the full showcase for you below:
We even got a smaller gameplay trailer after the event, with pre-orders now available.
Alongside the standard edition, fans will also be able to get their hands on the fancy Deluxe Edition, which contains:
- 24-Hour Early Access (digital versions only)
- Deluxe Edition DLC Pack: 4 Exclusive Outfits, 1 New Weapon Skin, Gleaming Gadget Skin Pack
- Exclusive DLC Skins: Golden Gun, Obsidian Gold Suit
There’s even an awesome Collector’s Edition that comes with:
- Golden Gun Figurine with Stand & Secret Compartment
- Certificate of Authenticity
- Steel Case with Magnet & Full Game (Disc)
- Deluxe Edition DLC Pack: 4 Exclusive Outfits, 1 New Weapon Skin, Gleaming Gadget Skin Pack
- Exclusive DLC Skins: Golden Gun, Obsidian Gold Suit
Stay tuned for more news on 007 First Light as it drops.
