The Name Is Bond, Late Bond: IO Delays Its 007 Game

5 days ago 8

Scott Baird is a contributor with over a decade's experience writing about video games, along with board games and tabletop RPGs. Scott has previously worked for Dexerto, Cracked, Dorkly, and Gamepur.

IO Interactive has revealed that 007: First Light has been delayed by 2 months, to May 2026, as the game needs more polish before it’s ready.

007: First Light is an upcoming prequel game that explores the origins of James Bond, showing his training and early missions as a super spy. The most recent trailer shown during The Game Awards 2025 confirmed that the game’s villain will be played by Lenny Kravitz, marking his debut as a video game voice actor.

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007: First Light was originally supposed to launch in March 2026, but Bond is arriving late for this mission. IO Interactive announced on its official BlueSky page that 007: First Light will now launch on May 27, 2026.

Why Has 007: First Light Been Delayed?

As can be inferred from the short delay, 007: First Light just needs a bit more time in the oven before it can be released. IO Interactive has confirmed that the game is playable from beginning to end and only needs some polish to be as bug-free as possible. There will be more news about the game in early 2026.

The fact that 007: First Light only has such a short delay and is coming in the less-busy summer season means that fans have received the news of the delay well, encouraging the developers to take all the time they need.

The footage revealed so far for 007: First Light has been stellar, leaning into the stealth-action gameplay IO Interactive is known for and delivering the bombastic action set pieces that are crucial to the James Bond franchise. Hopefully, 007: First Light doesn’t face any more delays, and everyone gets the chance to begin Bond’s first mission next May.