Last Updated on Oct 28, 2025 @ 14:23:01 PM.
007 First Light has seemingly hit the ground running, and after the gameplay reveal recently, the hype behind io Interactive’s first non-Hitman game in years is big. We sat down with Theuns Smit, Senior Producer on the game, during Gamescom 2025, and had a chat about what we can expect once the game drops next year.
As a lifelong James Bond fan, I had to take the opportunity to ask Smit where we could expect their version of Bond in 007 First Light to land on the spectrum of oddball to realistic that the franchise has skirted between for the last half a century, something fans have been eager to find out themselves, and it turns out that the gameplay reveal might not be fully representative of the zaniness in store for us:
“For the gadgets we’re focusing on variety, and the need comes from the gameplay. So we wanted to have that mix of leaning into the franchise, Q Branch being this fantastical division of MI6 that can turn anything almost into anything, but we wanted to make sure that the gadgets we introduce are well-fitting for the gameplay loops that we are going through. So some of them might be a bit more contemporary. Some of them might be a little slightly more outlandish, but nothing pushing the bar, I would say, outside of believability. Because that is also an important thing coming from Q branch is that this is something that not only they can do and pull off, but in a way that it’s perhaps everyday objects that you wouldn’t expect, and that’s what Bond then gets to use.”
Smit stopped short of placing 007 First Light on a spectrum between the unbelievable Roger Moore Bond and the gritty and grounded Daniel Craig entries, but from what he said, and what we’ve seen, it certainly looks to have its own unique identity, and potentially aims to sit on the fence between both options.
For more Thumb Wars, don’t miss out on Franchise Art Director on 007 First Light discussing worrying traits for Bond, or the fact that another GTA 6 leak might have given us a glimpse at what we can expect.
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
