Featured Image Credit: IO Interactive
Topics: James Bond, GTA, The Elder Scrolls
007 First Light is nearly here, and already, it's starting to make an impact in the video game industry.
As James Bond prepares to bring his Aston Martin collection and typically sassy British attitude to our screens again, 007 First Light has already shaken, not stirred, the gaming industry by setting a new standard.
Not necessarily because of its gameplay - the jury will decide on that when the game releases on 27 May 2026.
But rather through its theme tune. Having always attracted the biggest singers and artists in the music industry (think Adele with Skyfall), 007 First Light has followed suit.
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Now, Lana Del Rey has put her voice to the lyrics of 007 First Light, and it's a recipe for success that should be adopted throughout the gaming industry as we continue to intertwine with the wider entertainment mediums.
When it comes to music in the gaming industry, we've not been slacking. Colossal composers like Hans Zimmer have created the soundtracks to iconic franchises such as Call of Duty, while Gustavo Santaolalla has used The Last of Us as a catalyst for his fame and success.
Then you have Fortnite, which has actively championed live concerts for Travis Scott and Arianna Grande.
But when it comes to lyrical theme songs, only rock bands like Bring Me the Horizon (Death Stranding) and Imagine Dragons (League of Legends) have dabbled in writing songs specifically for games - oh, and Paul McCartney (Destiny). There's a lot to be desired.
That's where Lana Del Rey has come in; she's slapped the competition in the face with her glove to challenge the industry and showcase exactly what is possible.
Her hit single First Light has already surpassed 600,000 views on YouTube and another 650,000 streams on Spotify, making it one of - if not the singular - biggest soundtrack releases that the gaming industry has seen.
With bigger 'games' on the way in the next year or two, this trend might be the ticket to finally tapping into the music industry and converting it into more gamers.
The biggest example of an upcoming game that should take Lana Del Rey's gauntlet up is GTA VI. The franchise has already dabbled in using music to its advantage, but has primarily done so through the radio stations using pre-existing tunes.
GTA VI does intend to continue this trend, with some artists already confirmed to be featured in the game, providing us with personalised theme tunes for our crime-laden endeavours.
Going one step further and having artists design songs purely for the GTA VI launch wouldn't be too far outside of the remit for Rockstar Games, and who wouldn't want to feature on arguably the biggest title the industry has ever made? The Elder Scrolls VI and other like-minded AAA titles could easily follow that trend, too.
The door is open for developers and artists to walk through, holding the same song sheet, and it seems like a win-win for everyone.
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