IO Interactive’s ‘007 First Light’ Launch Trailer Reveals Lenny Kravitz as the Villain

Summary

007 First Light, IO Interactive’s standalone James Bond origin story developed with Amazon MGM Studios, launches May 27 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version to follow in Summer 2026
The game stars Patrick Gibson as James Bond, with Priyanga Burford as M, Lennie James as hardline training instructor John Greenway, and Lenny Kravitz as villain Bawma

IO Interactive’s new game, 007 First Light, will be released on May 27th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The launch trailer reveals the game is a James Bond origin story, focusing on player freedom and creative gameplay within a cinematic spy thriller. The cast includes Patrick Gibson as the young James Bond, Lennie James as his tough instructor, and Lenny Kravitz playing the villain.

George Gibson portrays a Bond who’s still developing, fitting for an origin story. He’s not the cool and collected 007 we know from Sean Connery or Daniel Craig, but a new operative proving himself. After a risky mission in Iceland, Bond gets noticed by MI6 and supported by M (Priyanga Burford), despite resistance from John Greenway (Lennie James), a former 00 agent and tough training instructor. Greenway’s strict methods clash with Bond’s more intuitive style, and this conflict drives much of the game’s drama. Lenny Kravitz rounds out the cast as Bawma, a wild card who adds depth to the story beyond typical villain tropes.

The game truly shines with the core gameplay elements that define IO Interactive’s HITMAN series. Players have four key tools at their disposal: Spycraft, which encourages careful observation and gathering clues; Bond’s Instinct, allowing for manipulation and precise combat; Q Branch gadgets for versatile solutions like hacking and distractions; and a combat system that balances stealth and action, mirroring Bond’s evolving approach to force. Like the celebrated levels in HITMAN, the game emphasizes having multiple ways to complete objectives, rewarding players for being observant rather than aggressive. After finishing the story, TacSim mode adds even more replayability with scored missions and challenging modifiers, further building on this design philosophy.

When IO Interactive, the creators of HITMAN, announced they were making a James Bond game, it surprised many. However, 007 First Light is showing why this pairing works so well. The HITMAN games always focused on clever problem-solving, understanding your surroundings, and using both social situations and the environment to your advantage – all while rewarding careful planning and thinking outside the box. These are precisely the skills that make a Bond origin story engaging as a video game.

Watch the launch trailer above. 007 First Light launches May 27 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

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