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007 First Light release date, launch times and latest news

Hopefully it's better than 007 Legends!

James Bond wearing black aviator sunglasses and a pink polo shirt in front of a parasol in 007 First Light.

IO Interactive

Published: Thursday, 21 May 2026 at 10:11 am

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James Bond is making his gaming return this month as 007 First Light is set to launch.

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Telling an original Bond story about how he got his 00 status, the game comes from Danish studio IO Interactive, the studio behind the Hitman series.

If you're excited to jump into Bond's shoes, here's what you need to know about the 007 First Light release date, launch times and more.

007 First Light release date and UK launch time

007 First Light is currently scheduled to release on 27 May 2026 at 3pm BST. Early access will go live at the same time on 26 May.

If you're not from the UK, then here's what time you can play the game in your time zone:

Initially dubbed 'Project 007' upon its reveal in November 2020, the game was officially confirmed in its current form early in 2025.

The official release date was later announced at the start of September during a 30-minute gameplay showcase showing off a brief section of the game.

This was later delayed to a May release date in December 2025, with IOI confirming that a few more months were needed to ensure the game was sufficiently polished on release.

007 First Light Nintendo Switch 2 delay explained

In April 2026, it was confirmed by developer IO Interactive that the Switch 2 version of 007 First Light had been delayed.

Rather than arriving in May along with the other platforms, the Switch 2 version is simply scheduled for "later this summer."

This is in order to ensure that the game delivers the "best game experience possible across all platforms."

Can I pre-order 007 First Light?

Yes! You can currently pre-order 007 First Light for every platform except Nintendo Switch 2.

PC players can get themselves a copy from either Steam or the Epic Games Store.

Meanwhile, console players can purchase the game from either the PlayStation Store or Xbox Store.

Which consoles and platforms can play 007 First Light?

007 First Light will release on PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2.

It will mark one of the first major cross-platform titles to launch on the Nintendo Switch 2, showing off the new console's added power.

Unfortunately, it seems like we've officially hit the point of no return for last-gen consoles, as a version of the game for Xbox One, PS4 and Switch 1 is nowhere to be seen.

007 First Light gameplay and story details

007 First Light features a wholly original James Bond story, though it does take plenty of inspiration from the original Ian Fleming novels.

The game will tell James Bond's origin story, following Bond as a 26-year old with only a few missions under his belt, and already garnering a reputation as a bit of a loose cannon.

First Light will see him entrusted with a major mission that, once completed, will see him earn his 00 status for the first time.

As well as Bond, the game will feature a variety of classic Bond characters, including the likes of M, Q and Moneypenny.

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As for gameplay, we've only seen a few clips, but it appears to mix the stealth of the Hitman games with gunplay, melee combat and plenty of gadgets to use during your playthrough.

There also appear to be a couple of vehicle sections, with Bond driving a classic Aston Martin and even, seemingly, a motorboat.

The game has an air of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle about it, too, so it's one to keep an eye on if you enjoyed Indy's last adventure.

If you're after as much info about the game as possible, we recently interviewed 007 First Light franchise director Jonathan Lacaille, during which he shared plenty of intel about the upcoming title. You can read the interview here, or watch the full interview via the video below:

Is there a 007 First Light trailer?

Yes, there is! There's a three-minute trailer explaining the premise of the game and showing off a bit of gameplay too, and you can watch it below!

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Alex Raisbeck, smiling against a lime green background.

Alex RaisbeckGaming writer

Alex Raisbeck is a Gaming Writer at Radio Times, covering everything from AAA giants to indie gems. Alex has written for VideoGamer, GamesRadar+, PC Gamer, PCGamesN and more.

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