007: FIRST LIGHT Dev Explains Why It Introduces a Younger, Less Polished Bond for a New Generation

The team behind 007: First Light is doing something Bond fans haven’t really seen before, they’re rewinding the clock. Instead of dropping players into the polished shoes of the suave, lethal secret agent we all know, IO Interactive is taking us back to the very beginning.

The version of James Bond at the center of this game hasn’t even earned his double-O status yet, and this should make for a very interesting story and gaming experience.

Speaking with GamesRadar+ during Summer Game Fest, 007 franchise director Jonathan Lacaille explained the creative thinking behind the decision to tell an origin story:

“We have a story to tell that people are probably very curious to find out. What are the events and the people that shaped the character [James Bond] is today? Was he always the womanizer that he is, or the strong man that he is?”

By exploring an era of Bond’s life that’s “not been covered much,” Lacaille says the team was drawn to “the exciting part” of what makes Bond become Bond. By making him younger, more impulsive, and even a bit clumsy, IO is hoping to connect with a newer generation of players.

“There’s a lot of youth in him, so maybe some recklessness at times. And he has a lot of charm, but he doesn’t know how to use it yet. He’s maybe not as efficient as a [later] Bond would be.”

That raw, not-quite-formed Bond is a strategic choice meant to feel “more relatable” to players who might not be longtime fans of the franchise. Lacaille admits that the average gaming audience skews younger than the typical Bond moviegoer, and by showing a Bond who hasn’t figured it all out yet, IO is hoping to strike a chord.

“It’s a new story to tell, and also a story that would connect really well>’

Of course, starting from scratch isn’t easy. Unlike adapting a specific film or novel, this game has no roadmap. But for Lacaille, that’s part of the creative thrill:

“It’s not an adaptation or anything [...] but that’s what will allow us to make a great game, because then we have a lot of freedom that will fit with the gameplay mechanics.”

Lacaille went on the says that First Light is “well-advanced since we’ve announced it” and already “feels fantastic.”

This may not be the version of Bond we’re used to, but I am excited to see what the creative team does with this.