News
Dec 23, 2025
The upcoming James Bond game 007 First Light has been delayed. Here’s what we know so far, why delays happen, and what players should expect next. Photo by: Hardcore Gamer
007 First Light, the upcoming James Bond action-adventure game from IO Interactive, was delayed from March 27 to May 27, 2026 to give the team more time to polish gameplay and ensure a very high-quality launch for the players all across various platforms.

Originally, 007 First Light was scheduled to launch on March 27, 2026. That date was announced after the game’s reveal in 2025, but in late December 2025, IO Interactive confirmed that the release would be moved back by two full months.
The developer said the game is already playable from start to finish, but needs extra time for polishing and refining. This means that making the gameplay smoother, fixing bugs, improving visuals, and ensuring that players have the best experience possible on day one of its release.

007 First Light is an original James Bond origin story game from IO Interactive, the studio best known for the Hitman series. In this title, players will take on the role of a younger James Bond as he earns his “00” status a fresh take on the classic spy.
The game will be released on:
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X|S
Windows (PC)
Nintendo Switch 2
It features action, stealth, gadgets, car chases, and globe-trotting missions, tying in classic spy elements with a deeper story about Bond’s early years.
Delays often sound disappointing, but there’s a practical reason this one makes sense:
Quality Matters
Developers want the game to run well for everyone not just look good in trailers. Additional time helps in fixing all the bugs and improving performance so that Day 1 players do not face any kind of major issues.
Polishing Gameplay
Action sequences, stealth mechanics, enemy AI, and mission flow all benefit from the extra testing and feedback. This can make the final experience feel more smoother and very satisfying.
Avoiding Competition
With the major games like GTA 6 also shifting release windows, the new May date could help 007 First Light launch without overlapping big blockbuster weeks.
Because of the delay:
Pre-orders remain open.
Any bonuses tied to launch should still apply.
Early access or demo plans, if any, will likely remain unchanged.
The two-month pushback also gives players a bit more time to hype builds, watch gameplay previews, and prepare for the big launch in spring 2026.
Event | Date |
|---|---|
Original Release Plan | March 27, 2026 |
New Release Date | May 27, 2026 |
Delay Length | 2 months |
Developer | IO Interactive |
Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X |

On Reddit and forums, players shared mixed reactions:
“Glad they’re taking time to polish it.”
“Two months isn’t crazy, better a good game than a buggy one.”
“Now I’ll wait even longer for Bond.” Reddit user comments.
Some fans were joking about overlapping releases or comparing delays with GTA 6, while others welcomed the choice to refine the game before launch.

For the players whose age ranges from 14 to 25 in the US, this delay means a few key things which are as follows:
More time to budget and plan for the game purchase.
Extra anticipation building up hype before release.
A potentially smoother, more polished experience on day one.
The game was delayed by two months to give developers more time for polishing and refining the experience before launch.
The new release date is May 27, 2026.
It will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
According to developers, the game is nearly complete and playable from beginning to end.