Pareesa Afreen 
Dec 25, 2025
An undated image of 007 First Light poster. — PlayStation
James Bond fans will have to wait a little longer, as 007 First Light has officially been delayed. IO Interactive has confirmed that the upcoming James Bond game 007 First Light will now launch on May 27, 2026, instead of its earlier March 27 release date. The announcement was shared by IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak on social media.
Answering the question of what happened with the game and why there has been a significant delay, Abrak stated: ”The game can be playable start-to-finish even now, but we need some extra time to work out some things and polish everything.”
In two months, the studio will work on optimising everything related to game performance and smoothness.
Abrak pointed out that they hope the final build will be aligned with the expectations of the fans and fit the name of the James Bond series. Share updates will be given by the end of January 2026.
007 First Light is action-adventure spy gameplay that revolves around the background of James Bond. The gameplay allows gamers to play as James Bond when he is young with no experience in the profession yet but strives to attain the status of “007”.
Irish actor Patrick Gibson has been cast to voice the new Bond, while Grammy Award winner Lenny Kravitz will portray the primary antagonist in the game, a mysterious figure by the name of Bawma.
Old allies like M and Q will make an appearance alongside some new characters that have been developed especially for this game to make it clear that this is an original take on the James Bond world.
IO Interactive has also clarified that “the game won’t be a direct copy of their Hitman series but rather have elements of fast-paced action games” with classic elements of spy games, which include elements of fighting, stealth gameplay, and cinematic storytelling.
IO Interactive has also clarified that the game will not be a direct copy of its Hitman series. Instead, 007 First Light gameplay will combine fast-paced action with classic spy elements, including combat, stealth, and cinematic storytelling.
The new May release places the game alongside titles such as Paralives and LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. It also creates a wider gap from Grand Theft Auto VI, now scheduled for November 2026.
