James Bond Shows Off More Drifting Skills In ‘007 First Light’ Gameplay Reveal
Following the initial announcement of 007 First Light back in June, we got our first look at a Bond game in over a decade. Now, we get a much better insight into what we can expect from the upcoming title developed by IO Interactive, the studio behind the Hitman series.
The gameplay reveal showcases almost 35 minutes of raw, in-game footage. Thankfully, no cheesy voiceovers, just pure gameplay, along with brief introductions from the devs.
It’s refreshing to see new games showcased this way, even with the clear FPS issues they would’ve undoubtedly been aware of. The transparent approach has also gone down well with the fans, with YouTuber @BettercallRaf445 commenting: “The gameplay is surprisingly so honest & transparent, its not perfect but thats what we like from a preview, no sugarcoating or pretending to be something that its not.”
Image credit: 007 First Light – Gameplay Reveal
The reveal delivers more of Bond’s drifting antics from the initial trailer, where we see more of his Aston Martin DBS.
Image credit: 007 First Light – Gameplay Reveal
There’s also our first glimpse of a rather posh Jaguar XJ with Slovakian license plates, which drives sensibly and shows off its blinkers. We also get a preview of some of the unlicensed cars.
Image credit: 007 First Light – Gameplay Reveal
Despite being officially licensed, it’s great that the cars take damage as they smash through obstacles, something that’s more uncommon than you might think.
Bond’s take on the recent popularity of touge-based drifting sees him head to Slovakia’s Carpathian Mountains, along with glimpses of London’s Kensington in later scenes.
The game’s sideways action currently looks quite a bit ‘twitchier’ than dedicated drift offerings, which isn’t a huge surprise. There’s also heavy use of motion blur despite the cars appearing sluggish, especially during the open-road sections.
Still, these elements could be polished before release. Admittedly, drifting probably isn’t their top priority, though.
Let’s not forget they still have six months to refine the finishing touches for when 007 First Light launches on March 27, 2026, on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Preordering the game gets you a free Deluxe Edition upgrade, including 24-hour early access, four exclusive outfits, a new weapon skin, and the ‘Gleaming Gadget’ skin pack.
However, before you click ‘Buy’, it’s worth noting that the game will be single-player only, which may not suit many potential players.
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Bill is a writer and photographer who has been part of the Drifted team since 2015. His work extends to various print and online publications, including Wangan Warriors.
As part of the King of Nations team, he traveled extensively for several years, capturing top-tier international drift events worldwide. His hands-on experience, including rebuilding his own Nissan Silvia S15 drift car, gives him unique insights into drift car building and global drift culture.
When not behind the lens or keyboard, Bill can be found browsing classifieds for his next JDM project or shredding virtual tires on popular simulators like Assetto Corsa, CarX, and Forza.
You can learn more about Bill’s story here or follow his socials on X (formerly Twitter), Flickr, Facebook, and Instagram.
