Four years after No Time to Die—the 25th James Bond film and Daniel Craig’s final outing as the iconic spy—there’s still no named successor to step into the tuxedo, order a martini, or take the wheel of an Aston Martin—at least, not on the big screen. But for the first time in Bond history, fans will meet a new 007 in a video game before the next actor makes their cinematic debut.
Developed by Danish studio IO Interactive for next year’s 007: First Light, this new Bond is clean-cut and handsome in a slightly generic way. With a youthful face and confident blue eyes, he lacks the rugged edge of Craig or the refined maturity of past Bonds—though he clearly draws inspiration from Craig’s action-hero persona. The implication is that this Bond will grow into the role rather than embody it from the start. First Light is an origin story, designed to redefine one of entertainment’s most enduring heroes for a new generation of gamers.
“The idea was to start with his origin,” says IO Interactive co-owner and First Light creative director Christian Elverdam. “We wanted to explore who James Bond was as a young man and what it truly means to become a 00 agent. What does it take to earn the title of 007?”
Most Bond games so far have been shooters, following the mold of GoldenEye 007, the wildly popular 1997 Nintendo 64 game. But while first-person shooters remain successful, later 007 games struggled. The lukewarm reception and poor sales of 007 Legends in 2012 put Bond’s gaming career on hold—until IO Interactive approached Eon Productions with a fresh pitch: a game that captures the essence of a Bond film rather than just focusing on gunplay.
“There are great shootouts in the movies, but if you think about it, they’re not that frequent,” Elverdam points out. Bridging this gap between films and games became the core of IO’s vision. To do Bond justice in a game, Elverdam explains, players should experience a character who isn’t “always shooting.”
IO had already proven this approach could work. Between 2016 and 2021, the studio revitalized its Hitman series with a critically acclaimed trilogy. Keeping what worked—strategic planning and problem-solving over mindless violence—while ditching outdated elements, IO created a clever, replayable stealth experience. The Hitman: World of Assassination games were witty, satirical, and brilliantly designed, making them the perfect showcase for IO’s pitch to Eon.
“A lot of Hitman already feels like spycraft,” Elverdam says. “So if we take that foundation and add the elements a Bond game needs—driving, hand-to-hand combat, and yes, some shootouts—that’s how First Light came to be.”
The game’s title is fitting, as it marks the first promising development for the Bond franchise in years. Originally announced as Project 007 in 2020, the game has weathered uncertainty, including MGM’s $8.45 billion merger with Amazon in 2022. While Amazon MGM now controls Bond’s back catalog, creative decisions—including casting the next 007—remain with Eon, led by producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.Then, in February of this year, Broccoli and Wilson handed over creative control to Amazon in a secret but reportedly massive deal, ending the Broccoli family’s 63-year reign as the guardians of James Bond’s film legacy. Since then, Amazon has started unveiling its plans, choosing Denis Villeneuve to direct the next installment. But fans and industry insiders alike are still eagerly awaiting the casting decision, which could shape the future of one of the world’s most profitable film franchises.
While the next Bond film remains uncertain, a new video game version of 007 has a chance to make a big impact. The first trailer for 007 First Light doesn’t reveal much, but it radiates confidence. It’s a montage that promises everything fans love about Bond will be there—the elaborate traps and gadgets from the Roger Moore era, the raw physicality of Daniel Craig’s Bond, and the signature reckless charm that defines every on-screen portrayal of the character.
“If you want to do this with real ambition, you have to study each Bond film, understand what they aimed for, and let that inspire your own vision,” says Elverdam, the game’s creative director.
Though he has plenty to say about Bond in general, Elverdam isn’t ready to share specifics about his version—like the name of the actor voicing 007. But he knows Bond can’t just be plopped into today’s world without thought.
“Every Bond reflects his era, whether you intend it or not. It’s inevitable,” he explains. “What we see as a threat, what we admire—all of that evolves.” Elverdam lists some of the questions IO’s Bond will grapple with: When do you follow orders? When do you go rogue? What does serving King and Country really mean? And why do it at all?
If Elverdam and IO answer these questions well, their Bond might just give the next movie version some serious competition.
