When is the 007 First Light release date? Way back in 2020, Hitman developer IO Interactive announced 'Project 007,' a codenamed James Bond videogame project that, since then, has had very little said about it. Five years later, IO dropped the game's name, 007 First Light, along with a single image and a promise of more information to follow.
After a State of Play gameplay deep dive, we now know so much more about the upcoming game and what we can expect in Bond's first outing as an MI6 recruit. Find out all the information about the 007 First Light release date, including a gameplay breakdown, details about the story, and so much more.
007 First Light release date
The 007 First Light release date is set to arrive on Friday, March 27, 2026. The Digital Deluxe edition exclusively features 24-hour early access, giving players access to the game one day ahead of time. 007 First Light will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Designed using an upgraded version of IO Interactive's Glacier engine, it appears the game is surprisingly scalable, capable of running on Nintendo's handheld console. With that said, 007 First Light isn't coming to the previous generation consoles, so we can expect better visuals as the devs won't need to accommodate older hardware.
Despite being formerly announced back in 2020, 007 First Light didn't enter full production until after Hitman 3's development process ended in early 2021. Judging by the gameplay we've seen so far, it seems unlikely that the game will receive a delay beyond its March release date.
007 First Light trailers
The official announcement trailer, coming just a few days after the game's title was revealed, was shown during PlayStation State of Play on June 4, 2025. In the three-minute-long video, we get a detailed introduction to young Bond, his time in the Navy, and his recruitment into MI6.
In contrast, the 007 First Light teaser trailer, first revealed in November 2020, revealed very little, showcasing just the placeholder 'Project 007' logo. The video shows the iconic 007 sequence of a bullet firing through a pistol barrel, but instead of revealing Bond at the end, the codename for the game was shown on a red background, replacing the iconic white.
007 First Light gameplay
The 007 First Light gameplay reveal video gave us around 30 minutes to analyze, taking viewers through Bond's first mission as he's tasked with catching 009, a rogue agent. Beginning the mission in a car, Bond receives his mission briefing while driving towards his destination. Cinematic elements feature throughout the mission, with numerous cutscenes taking place between objectives.
As Martin Emborg, cinematic and narrative director at IO Interactive, points out in our 007 First Light interview, this is a version of Bond who hasn't been through all the experiences that have turned him into the spy we all know and love.
The game uses the same third-person perspective as Hitman 3, giving players the ability to switch between standard third-person and over-the-shoulder while firing weapons. Stealth is core to the gameplay, forcing Bond to think carefully about his approach to the mission at hand. For example, we can see Bond sneak past some guards by turning on a nearby gas valve, but there appear to be multiple routes available to the player.
Bond's gadgets make sneaking past hired goons fairly simple, capable of knocking out unsuspecting guards using his Dart Phone. Taking a closer look at the UI, we can see he also has access to a Shockwave Camera and Smoke Pods, with each gadget having a limited number of uses. These aren't the only gadgets on offer, as per the initial gameplay reveal teaser showing the young spy-in-training utilizing his laser-equipped wristwatch.
Bond's iconic DB5 (from the movies, not the books) features in a high-speed chase, taking us through the countryside in pursuit of 009. We then see Bond casually mow down groups of soldiers as he utilizes a range of weaponry, including assault rifles, shotguns, and pistols.
True to its cinematic roots, the mission ends with Bond having to balance himself on a moving plane as he fights against multiple enemies before parachuting to safety. Later on in the gameplay deep dive, we get to see Bond speaking with some NPCs, giving us a glimpse of the dialogue options you can use to obtain intel.
007 First Light pre-order bonuses
As mentioned earlier, the Digital Deluxe edition of 007 First Light not only features 24-hour early access, but there are also four exclusive outfits, one weapon skin, and a Gleaming Pack containing gold gadgets. If you pre-order the game, your copy will automatically be upgraded to the Digital Deluxe edition for free.
You can already sign up for an IOI account to unlock a bonus skin for James and a gold weapon skin. We can't see this on the official IOI website, but we expect it to appear in the 'Rewards and Bonuses' section of your account in the near future.
That's everything there is to know about the 007 First Light release date so far. In the meantime, check out some other action-adventure games, stealth games, or the best PC games of all time, including the original Hitman.
Original article by Danielle Rose.