IOI Talks Young James Bond In “First Light”

IO Interactive unveiled the trailer for its new James Bond game “007: First Light” last week, the developer showcasing a “Hitman”-meets-“Uncharted” style game that explores Bond’s origins – taking us to a time when he is just 26 years old.

Some elements from Bond lore are kept – the death of his parents in a climbing accident at age 11, going through several colleges/universities, and serving a stint in the navy before being recruited to the British Secret Service – though not a 00 agent at this point (in the books he reaches 00 status in his late twenties).

The game’s Bond has the right cheek scar of Fleming’s Bond, but the eyes are slightly too blue (Bond has blue-grey eyes) and the hair a bit too brown rather than black. The game also shifts the setting to what appears to be modern day or close to it, but otherwise looks surprisingly good.

Now, speaking to GamesRadar+ at Summer Game Fest, franchise director Jonathan Lacaille says IOI found it exciting to work on a period of Bond’s life that has “not been covered much”:

“We have a story to tell that people are probably very curious to find out. What are the events and the people that shaped the character [James Bond] is today? Was he always the womanizer that he is, or the strong man that he is?

… There’s a lot of youth in him, so maybe some recklessness at times. And he has a lot of charm, but he doesn’t know how to use it yet. He’s maybe not as efficient as a [later] Bond would be. it’s a new story to tell, and also a story that would connect really well.”

Though the Hitman and Bond characters are different, the developers will lean into their strengths from the former here such as “varied and spread out” approaches to missions. There’ll also be invaluable spy gadgets to help out.

The game isn’t a direct adaptation of either a specific book or film, allowing them “a lot of creative freedom” to fit within the gameplay mechanics. “007: First Light” is expected to hit stores next year.

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