youngest Bond we have seen from any medium, at age 26, and while the actor playing James Bond has not been confirmed yet, it appears developer IO Interactive is aiming to reach as wide an audience as possible. The game will feature an original narrative, drawing inspiration from previous Bond films, books, and other media, and will serve as an origin story for the character. It seems like even those completely unfamiliar with Bond will be able to enjoy First Light.

Speaking to ScreenRant at Summer Game Fest, Jonathan Lacaille, Franchise Director at IO Interactive, stated that the game is looking to appeal to a "much younger audience," with its James Bond casting and story decisions. Lacailie went on to explain that the Bond character has been synonymous with the actors playing him in movies, like Daniel Craig playing him in the most recent films, and those films are aimed at a bit older audience, with Lacailie saying: "... it’s maybe for an older audience. We’re looking at an audience on console. A much younger audience, say 25/35, to connect to more relatably."

James Bond Is Much Younger In 007 First Light

Before He Was A 00 Agent

Lacaille went on to detail some of Bond's characterization in the new game, saying that while everyone knows who Bond is today, the decision to focus on his youth and origin makes him more relatable, and that he isn't the same womanizing, smooth, and level-headed Bond that has been depicted in the films, books, or other games. Before becoming 007, in First Light, Bond will act impulsively, sometimes recklessly. He will also have a face scar that never made it to a Bond film, and its origin could be explored as well.

Some more game details were also discussed by Lacaille, such as the game not featuring multiplayer, and being strictly a third-person, narrative-focused game. Even with no multiplayer, there are plenty of features fans would likely want to see in First Light, such as spy gadgets and references to Bond films, and the song used in the First Light reveal trailer was the theme song from the 1969 Bond film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Devs Want To Appeal To A Younger Audience Than Typical Bond Movies Have

It's Been A Long Time Since We've Seen A Younger Bond

The idea to want to appeal to a younger, more gaming-focused audience isn't surprising for the title. It's hard to go anywhere in the world and meet someone who hasn't heard of James Bond's name, but not as many would be able to tell you facts about the character, like how many actors have portrayed him, how many video games he has previously had, how many movies there are, and more. The character is over 70 years old, having been created in 1953, so focusing on a younger Bond for his re-entry into video games is probably the right call.

As the character gets older, the general audience interested in Bond games (and video games in general) might skew a little younger, especially with their traditional focus on heavy action, espionage, and gunfights. Exploring uncharted territory for the first time should be exciting for Bond fans, though, even if it's not a Bond they may be used to. 007 First Light is scheduled for release sometime in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.