A lot of excitement is starting to build around the upcoming launch of007 First Light, with theJames Bondtitle already shaping up to portray a fascinating take on the longstanding pop culture icon. Set for a 2026 release window, fans recently got their first glimpses atFirst Light, with IO Interactive clearly not shying away from using its experience with theHitmanfranchise as inspiration for the game’s major mechanics.
The snazzy locations and player freedom that fans will seemingly have at their disposal in007 First Lightseems like a perfect match for the modern experiences of theHitmanfranchise, and the recent Summer Game Fest presentation echoed this with the announcement of an exciting collaboration between theHitmanfranchise andFirst Light. Crucially, thisHitmancrossover pulls straight from the movie villains of theBondfranchise, with Mads Mikkelsen even reprising his role as Le Chiffre, andHitmanshould implement more of these crossover missions to further flesh out the wait forFirst Light’s launch.
Hitman Could Be the Perfect Vehicle to Build Hype Around 007 First Light Going Forward
The recent reveal of007 First Lightunderstandably drew a lot of attention, being the first majorJames Bondtitle since007 Legends, which released in 2012. Following a high-profile and long-lasting licensing feud that has had ramifications across the gaming and film sectors forJames Bond, it now seems set in stone that Amazon and MGM are at the wheel of the franchise, with a lot of pressure being placed onFirst Lightto kick off this bold new era with a bang.
007 First Lightwill feature its own unique take on theJames Bondstory, with the game showcasing the famous spy in his younger years as a mere trainee in the MI6 program, with the agent likely making a name for himself through his daring escapades throughoutFirst Light’s narrative. This will allowFirst Lighta lot of freedom in terms of where it can take its unique portrayal of theBondstory, yet this has not stopped the game from already smartly associating itself with the iconic villains and arcs of the franchise’s cinema history.
This is best evidenced in the recently announcedcrossover mission between007 First LightandHitman: World of Assassination, with a new Elusive Target mission being added to the game which sees Agent 47 hunt down and eliminateCasino Royale’s iconic villain, Le Chiffre. Mads Mikkelson is reprising his role as Le Chiffre, which he first played in the 2006 film adaptation ofCasino Royale, with players even earning unique rewards for007 First Lightfor engaging with theHitmanmission from June 6 to July 6.
There is Still Plenty of Room For Future Crossovers Between Hitman and 007 First Light
The development studio behindFirst Light, IO Interactive,has an extensive history with theHitmanfranchise, having created and worked on most of the franchise’s titles, making this kind of collaboration betweenWorld of AssassinationandFirst Lightall the more understandable. The studio has clearly cut its teeth on portraying layered and engaging spy gameplay experiences, and whileFirst Lightneeds to stand on its own two feet,Hitmanhas full reign to lean even further intoBond’s history to create even more anticipation for the launch of the upcoming game.
IO Interactive is also known for creating theKane and Lynchseries of games, with the studio having a strong track record of engaging third-person titles.
Future Elusive Target missions concerning differentBondvillains from the franchise’s many erascould be a perfect way to celebrate the rich history of such a successful IP, while giving fans enticing glimpses at what kind of gameplay experiences they can expect to see fromFirst Light’s eventual launch in 2026. Whether it be Oddjob, Jaws, or Blofeld, there is no shortage of possibilities for themed villain missions that keep the hype alive untilFirst Lightreleases. It seems clear that IO Interactive paid great respect to the franchise’s past withHitman’s recentCasino Royalemission, and similar experiences will only help boost the profile of007 First Light’s potential over the coming months.
