007: First Light is almost here, and IO Interactive has decided to show players the opening itself instead of letting shaky leaks set the first impression. The studio has released the first 13 minutes of gameplay, giving fans a clean look at its younger James Bond before the game launches on May 27.
The footage opens with Bond before he becomes the polished agent players know from the films. This is an origin story about a younger, rougher MI6 recruit who still has to earn his licence to kill, which gives IO room to build a Bond who can make mistakes, improvise, and grow into the role.
The first mission starts with a bigger action feel than some fans may expect from the studio behind Hitman. IO Interactive is still using stealth and observation, but 007: First Light is not being framed as another slow assassination sandbox with Bond’s name on it.
Bond is not Agent 47. He can sneak, bluff, fight, chase, and survive when a plan falls apart. The opening minutes show that balance, moving between cinematic action and quieter spy moments without making the game feel like a simple Hitman reskin.
The most interesting part of 007: First Light is not only the mission itself. It is the version of Bond IO is building. This is not the fully formed 007 walking into a casino with every room already under control. This Bond is still learning how to read danger, use charm, and stay alive when things break bad.
That gives the game a useful starting point for players who know Bond mostly through the movies. It also gives longtime fans something new, because the game is not adapting one film or retelling a familiar mission. It is building an original Bond story from the beginning.
The first 13 minutes arrived after early physical copies started appearing online, with leaks showing the introduction mission before launch. Releasing official footage gives players a better-quality version and helps IO control what people see before the game is out.
That is a smart move for a licensed game with this much attention. Bond games have been away for a long time, and 007: First Light is the first major new James Bond game since Activision’s run ended years ago. A clean official look helps the game make its own first impression.
007: First Light launches on May 27, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with early access available on May 26 for Digital Deluxe Edition owners. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is planned for later.
