Progress for the Switch 2 version of IO Interactive’s James Bond origin story, 007 First Light, is going smoothly, and the publisher is targeting a release this summer.
Although 007 First Light has been available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation since the end of May, IOI delayed the Switch 2 launch to a later date. At the time, the studio said, “We are thrilled to see players exploring James Bond’s reimagined origin tale and look forward to delivering the finest gaming experience possible across all platforms.”
IOI has yet to announce a precise Switch 2 release date for 007 First Light, but the team indicated it is “looking ahead to later this summer.” IOI senior licensing producer Theuns Smit told Pocket Tactics that the studio is “seeing remarkable progress on the optimization front,” adding that everything is “moving forward remarkably, it’s progressing well.”
“In the future, once we’re prepared to share more information, we will, but from what I can reveal currently, things are on schedule and advancing positively,” Smit said. “We aim to ensure that we dedicate adequate time to optimization and performance, so it achieves the quality we aspire to, and that we believe our players deserve.”
007 First Light marks the first James Bond game in more than a decade, placing players in the shoes of Patrick Gibson’s rookie—an agent who’s also a bit impulsive. The experience mixes stealth, firefights, and charisma, taking cues from IOI’s Hitman lineup while leaning into a bolder, more action-forward style. Of course, with it being a Bond title, it also includes driving sequences (I apologize for all the dings I’ve made to the Aston Martin).
Earlier this month, IOI revealed that 007 First Light moved an impressive 2.7 million copies during its first week on sale. The studio also shared that wine bottles were the item most frequently hurled—making up 36 percent of all thrown projectiles. A literal “plonk.” Players also kicked off 34 million missions, with 30 percent completed successfully. Naturally, those numbers have likely climbed since then.
“007 First Light is less thoughtful and less suited to repeat play than IO’s World of Assassination trilogy, but it makes up for it with superb close-quarters brawls and plenty of charm,” Rick Lane wrote in Eurogamer’s review, giving 007 First Light four stars. The encouraging part is that there’s more ahead, and IOI has extensive post-launch plans lined up for 007 First Light.
If you’re working your way through 007 First Light and could use a little help, be sure to check out our guides. Here’s a walkthrough for the third mission of 007 First Light to get you started.