007 First Light Delayed, Still Releasing Before GTA 6

The upcoming James Bond game, 007 First Light has been delayed further into 2026, but it’s still launching before Grand Theft Auto VI.

Developed by IO Interactive who gamers will know for the Hitman series, 007 First Light aims to put a new spin on the suave superspy we all know and love.

As an origin story it’ll tell the tale of Bond’s first major mission, the one that’ll finally award him the 00 status at MI6.

Gameplay will be similar to that of the Hitman series, but with more action setpieces and the typical flair and charm you’d associate with the James Bond franchise.

It was originally scheduled for release in March 2026 but has since been delayed to May 2026, not the worst outcome but not exactly ideal either.

IO Interactive made an announcement that said “Today, we are sharing an update regarding 007 First Light, as we have decided to move the game’s release by two months, to the 27th of May 2026.”

It continued: “007 First Light is our most ambitious project to date, and the team has been fully focused on delivering an unforgettable James Bond experience, bringing together breathtaking action, globe-trotting, spycraft, gadgets, car chases, and more.”

IO Interactive

Finally IOI extended its thanks to its fans and added “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.”

While the delay is frustrating it at least guarantees a more stable product overall, as many had already commented on the game’s performance when watching some of the gameplay footage.

It joins a variety of other games that have also seen delays in 2026, and other games that have made no mention of their release date, we’re looking at you Elder Scrolls VI…

Importantly, 007 First Light will still be releasing before GTA VI, and won’t be competing with Rockstar Games’ next open-world adventure.

Funny enough GTA VI was supposed to launch in May 2026 at one point before being pushed back to November, so IOI has essentially moved its launch window into Rockstar’s old one.

007 First Light will now launch on 27 May 2026 provided there are no additional delays, and will launch for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC.