007: First Light has officially been delayed, with the next James Bond adventure now targeting a May 2026 release window — the team wants to deliver the "strongest possible version at launch"

2026 is almost here, and the holidays are in full force, but that won't stop companies from sharing news of game delays. To that end, players will be waiting longer for their next outing with James Bond, as 007 First Light is being delayed a bit, developer and publisher IO Interactive shared on Tuesday via Bluesky.

Originally slated to launch on March 27, 2026, the game is being pushed two months forward and is now scheduled to arrive on May 27, 2026.

"The game is progressing well and is fully playable from beginning to end, so these additional two months will allow us to further polish and refine the experience, ensuring we deliver the strongest possible version at launch," writes game director Hakan Abrak.

An important update regarding the release date of 007 First Light.

— @007game.ioi.dk (@007game.ioi.dk.bsky.social) 2025-12-23T21:24:26.693Z

Grand Theft Auto exits, James Bond enters

Notably, this delay puts 007 First Light right next to where Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6 was slated to launch before the upcoming juggernaut was pushed back to November 22, 2026.

With the massive open-world crime epic no longer threatening to grab all the attention in May, I have to wonder if the developers at IO Interactive now feel safer about delaying the games and giving James Bond a little more polish.

Regardless, I'm more than content to wait a couple of extra months for a better version of the game. 007 First Light looks great so far, with gameplay footage and trailers showing off how it builds on the bones of IO Interactive's Hitman games, but expanded for espionage and far more action.

Naturally, the game even features an Aston Martin supercar decked out with weapons that Bond will be able to use in pursuit of his targets.

When it arrives, 007 First Light will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. It also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning Xbox players can buy one copy and play it across both Xbox consoles and PCs.

Are you interested in 007 First Light based on everything that's been shown so far? What are you most hoping to see in this new take on James Bond? Take to the comments and let me know!

007 First Light: $69.99 at xbox.com

007 First Light seems to carry forward the legacy that developer IO Interactive has previously established with its iconic Hitman franchise. As a young James Bond, players will pursue a rogue agent across the world, using charm, skill, and a wide range of advanced gadgets and weapons.

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