Meet the New James Bond: 007 First Light Shows Off a Fresh Origin Story with a Star-Studded Cast

If you’ve been wondering what’s next for the James Bond franchise in gaming, IO Interactive finally has answers, and they’re looking sharp. During the latest PlayStation State of Play, the studio behind the Hitman series gave fans a proper look at 007 First Light, a new Bond game coming in 2026 that introduces us to a much younger version of the iconic spy.

This isn't your typical tuxedo-wearing, martini-sipping Bond. Instead, we meet him at 26, fresh out of the Royal Navy and just starting his career with MI6. The trailer sets the tone with glimpses of a tragic childhood that left Bond orphaned at 11 and raised in boarding schools across the UK. It’s a deeper, more personal look at the man behind the secret agent persona.

As he steps into his new role, Bond is introduced to familiar faces reimagined for this origin tale: M, Q, and Moneypenny all make appearances. And adding even more weight to the story is The Walking Dead’s Lennie James, who takes on the role of John Greenway, Bond’s no-nonsense mentor. In the game, Greenway warns about an unpredictable rogue agent named 009, setting the stage for a thrilling mission filled with deception and danger.

The game itself promises a globetrotting, action-adventure experience where players can choose how they handle situations, using either brute force or Bond’s signature smooth-talking approach. From stealth missions to gadget-filled sequences and even using disguises (a nod to IO’s Hitman roots), it looks like fans will have plenty of ways to embody the world's most famous spy.

Originally teased back in 2020 as "Project 007", this is IO Interactive’s own take on Bond’s beginnings, not tied to any specific film. According to IO’s CEO Hakan Abrak, 007 First Light might just be the beginning, as there's hope to turn this into a full trilogy. While this means Hitman is taking a backseat for now, fans can look forward to playing 007 First Light on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and even the Nintendo Switch 2.