IO Interactive Delays 007 First Light to May 2026

IO Interactive announced Tuesday that its upcoming James Bond video game, 007 First Light, will launch two months later than planned, shifting the release from March 27, 2026, to May 27, 2026. The delay, detailed in a statement from studio CEO Hakan Abrak on social media, aims to allow additional time for polishing the title to meet high quality standards.

The game, developed and published independently by IO Interactive, explores the origin story of James Bond as a rookie MI6 agent on a perilous mission to earn his 00 status and license to kill. Players will follow a young Bond, voiced by Irish actor Patrick Gibson, through missions involving espionage, gadgets, car chases, and high-stakes action. Supporting characters include familiar figures like intelligence chief M and gadget expert Q, alongside original roles created for the game. The antagonist, a mysterious figure named Bawma, is portrayed by Grammy Award-winning artist Lenny Kravitz in his video game voice acting debut.

Abrak explained the decision in the announcement, stating that 007 First Light "is our most ambitious project to date, and the team has been fully focused on delivering an unforgettable James Bond...