After years of silence, IO Interactive is finally ready to pull the curtain back on its highly anticipated James Bond game. Titled “007: First Light,” the studio behind the Hitman reboot trilogy is reportedly preparing a major reveal for this week’s Summer Game Fest.

“First Light” will serve as the official title for IOI’s Bond origin story, first announced in 2020 under the working name Project 007. The title is expected to debut with an in-engine cinematic trailer, alongside a developer segment providing more context on the game’s world, tone, and stealth-action gameplay philosophy.

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A Fresh Take on Bond

Unlike past games that leaned into the likenesses of film actors like Sean Connery or Daniel Craig, 007: First Light is charting its own path. IO Interactive has opted for a fully original interpretation of James Bond no existing actors, no pre written lore, and no direct ties to the cinematic canon. This is Bond before he earned his license to kill.

Insiders describe the game as a “gritty origin story,” with narrative tones echoing Casino Royale but presented through the lens of IOI’s signature world design expect sprawling sandboxes, branching objectives, and a heavy emphasis on espionage and improvisation.

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What to Expect from the Reveal

According to leaked internal documentation, the game will feature a gameplay structure that blends the systemic stealth of Hitman with more dynamic set pieces inspired by classic Bond sequences think infiltrating high society galas, sabotaging weapons deals in snow-covered bases, and high stakes escapes in exotic locations.

While this week’s reveal will not include raw gameplay footage, IOI is expected to showcase a narrative-focused cinematic that sets the tone for what 007: First Light is trying to accomplish. The studio will also share a behind the scenes dev diary teasing some of the spy craft mechanics and how IO is leveraging their Glacier engine to push immersion and interactivity to the next level.

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A Trilogy in the Making

As first reported by Insider Gaming in 2023, IO Interactive is building 007: First Light as the opening chapter of a trilogy. While exact details remain scarce, sources say the studio envisions a character-driven arc that takes players from Bond’s rookie days to his full transformation into MI6’s most dangerous operative.

The trilogy approach also allows IOI to gradually expand the world, with future titles reportedly featuring a global network of intelligence agencies, recurring villains, and moral choices that influence Bond’s evolution.

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Coming to Next-Gen and Switch 2

Another major detail emerging ahead of the reveal is the game’s target platforms. 007: First Light is being developed natively for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and surprisingly Nintendo Switch 2.

IO Interactive confirmed earlier this spring that it’s working with Nintendo to bring the game to its next-gen platform, making First Light the first mainline Bond game on a Nintendo console since 007 Legends over a decade ago.

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A New Era for Bond

It’s been nearly a decade since fans last saw a major Bond title, and with 007: First Light, IO Interactive is aiming to redefine what a James Bond game can be. Grounded, stylish, and fiercely focused on player freedom, this isn’t just another spy thriller it’s the beginning of an origin story built for a new generation.

Look for the full reveal during Summer Game Fest this Friday. 1-Up Games will be covering it live.

Stay tuned.