007 First Light’s Bond Will Hit Hard With Daniel Craig–Era Physicality

IO Interactive is building its own James Bond from the ground up for 007: First Light, and the vibe they are chasing is pretty clear: think Daniel Craig-era bruiser energy, without simply cosplaying Craig.

So what kind of Bond are we getting?

Creative director Hakan Abrak told Edge magazine (issue 416) that their take leans into the more physical, punishing style of the Craig films. He is not talking about a one-to-one copy, but the DNA is there in how fights feel and move.

"the physicality of the combat is more like the Daniel Craig era"

Part of that is just how modern action games work. First Light is a third-person action game slated for 2025, so expect modern combat rhythms: ducking into cover, a camera that kicks when the hits land, and smooth transitions between firing a gun from range and cracking someone up close. Abrak also name-checked the athletic energy of Casino Royale’s opening chase as the sort of momentum they want you to feel: always moving, agile, a little breathless.

• Release window: 2025
• Format: third-person action
• Combat feel: heavy, mobile, and hands-on, inspired by Craig’s era
• Movement: parkour-leaning, keep-it-moving energy a la Casino Royale’s opener
• Systems: modern cover use, punchy camera feedback, fluid ranged-to-melee flow
• Story angle: a pseudo-origin setup that lets IOI define an early-career Bond
• Character: not a superhero out of the gate, unlike the ultra-composed Dr. No version
• Creative freedom: IOI was given permission to invent their own Bond instead of adapting an existing screen version
• Gadgets: designed to actually matter in play, not just be novelty toys (which tracks with the Hitman team’s design ethos)

What is interesting here is how openly IOI is talking about the overlaps with the films after spending so much of the marketing saying what makes First Light different. The studio seems genuinely pleased they are not tied to any past actor or movie continuity, which means their Bond can take his lumps, learn, and grow instead of swaggering in fully formed. That also feeds into their gadget philosophy: tools should solve problems in smart ways, not just beep and flash for a one-off gag.

Bottom line: this is IOI’s Bond, built to hit hard, move fast, and earn the tux rather than be born in it. We will see how it plays when it lands in 2025.