A James Bond Origins Game, One of the Newest Titles to Come from Hitman Series Maker, IO Interactive
by Aileen Tadeo
A video game teaser for what was dubbed Project 007 was hinted a few months ago, and the trailer of a game entitled 007 First Light has recently dropped. This adds to the handful of third-person James Bond video games through the years.
First Light is an origin story and centers on a young James Bond in training to be a double O agent. Some of 007’s back story get mentioned in a couple of Bond movies, but those who have read Ian Fleming books would be familiar. Makes sense that we see a young Bond and not one in his 40s.
“Look! It’s a young James Bond in his late-20s or early-30s!”
What the trailer mostly showed are cut scenes and bits of gameplay. It seems to be a combination of action and stealth, which its developer and publisher IO Interactive (same as the Hitman series) is an expert of. Viewers can see in a cut scene Bond dressed as what looks like a bellboy’s outfit. This could hint the possibility of being able to take the clothes of NPCs and enemies as Agent 47 does. On the contrary, it could be he already has the outfit donned at the beginning of a mission. It was mentioned during the IOI Showcase that gameplay trailer would be released by this summer. Hopefully it would reveal more of the game’s mechanics, as well as what weapons and gadgets are available at the players’ disposal.
Many eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot easter eggs such as the Aston Martin, the Walther PPK, layout of M’s office from the latter Craig era movies, people swimming in spandex and flippers a la Thunderball, Sir Roger’s stealth turtleneck from Live and Let Die, the theme of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, location similar to Furka Pass in Goldfinger, Miss Moneypenny, Q, and so much more.
Roger Moore’s Aston Martini from ‘The Persuaders’…
…and his infamous turtleneck (‘tactile neck’ by fans) shirt from ‘Live and Let Die’
Let’s not forget about the casting. I, along with other fans of a certain TV series, recognized the actor young James resembles. While nothing official has been confirmed, many speculate that the man behind Bond is Irish actor Patrick Gibson who recently played young Dexter Morgan in Dexter: Original Sin. Another notable personality is British actor Lennie James of The Walking Dead fame, who also played a Morgan – Morgan Jones.
Patrick Gibson as young James Bond?
I am looking forward to this new James Bond video game as a Bond fan who prefers third-person over first-person games. (Remember From Russia with Love on PS2/PSP and Quantum of Solace on PS2, anyone?) May it provide hours and hours of entertainment to Bond fans and non-fans alike, and go down in history as one of the most iconic games of the franchise as it dives down the British secret agent’s history. Many fan reactions have been positive so far. Fingers crossed there will also be more nods to the films that fans can enjoy.
Courtesy of PalmLeaves13 from Reddit
007 First Light is set to be released in 2026 on multiple platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S.
Aileen “EnslinPorter” Tadeo, panelist on the Timeless Gamers Show
Casino Royale villain Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelsen, appears in Hitman World of Assassination where Agent 47 is set to assassinate him.