IO Interactive says the gadgets in 007: First Light will be practical and more than just gimmicks, a design goal that could change how players approach stealth and combat. The studio also confirmed the game arrives March 27, 2026 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and the Nintendo Switch 2.
The team behind Hitman knows how to dream up ridiculous tools, from a chicken suit to an exploding rubber duck or a literal fish used to take out targets. IOI intends to bring that inventiveness to James Bond, but with a different aim. Gameplay director Andreas Krogh told PC Gamer in an interview that the gadgets needed to feel “practical, grounded, but fun and replayable” and to work across many areas and playstyles.
Footage shown earlier this summer underlined the point. The rising agent can drive fancy cars, land headshots, charm NPCs, and improvise in ways that recall Agent 47. Gadgets on display include a laser watch that can stun enemies or bring chandeliers crashing down, smoke bombs, and small items such as a lighter that can be used to create opportunities in the environment.
“We also wanted them to feel distinct from each other, both visually and practically, so each have their own purpose,” Krogh said. “All in all, they should give the player a broad list of tools to fit [their] playstyle.” That emphasis on distinct tools suggests levels and encounters may allow multiple approaches, whether someone wants to be subtle or more direct.
Questions remain about how those tools will balance ranged combat and stealth, and how the studio will translate Hitman style improvisation to a Bond game that includes more open gunplay. Who says Bond cannot improvise?
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