IO Interactive has delayed the Nintendo Switch 2 version of its upcoming James Bond game, 007 First Light.
In a statement released via social media today, IO reconfirmed the game’s previously-delayed launch date for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S (May 27, a date once held by GTA 6) before going on to note that the Switch 2 version was now set for “later this summer.”
The original plan had been for 007 First Light to arrive on all platforms at the same time (and originally on March 27). IO delayed the game back in December for all platforms, though had maintained its plan was to still launch the game simultaneously across all consoles.
Exactly why the Switch 2 version will now arrive months later than on other formats is unclear. Today’s statement avoids using the word “delay” at all, and simply offers the following by way of explanation:
“We’re excited to see players discovering James Bond’s reimagined origin story, and we are looking forward to bringing you the best game experience possible across all platforms.”
Could it be that the Switch 2 version, in particular, is proving problematic? Nintendo fans are still waiting for word on Borderlands 4’s Switch 2 port. There’s no sign of Starfield yet on Switch 2, either, despite the game (and other Bethesda titles) arriving on PS5.
Or could it be that all versions of the game simply need more time than IO anticipated even back in December? With the Switch 2 version presumably sidelined for now, resources can likely be reprioritized for the formats with bigger userbases. Without an official explanation by IO, we can only speculate.
007 First Light is, of course, the new Bond adventure from Hitman developer IO Interactive, with a brand-new origin story for the MI6 agent. 30-year-old Dexter: Original Sin star Patrick Gibson will portray the youngest on-screen 007 to date, alongside a starry cast of secret agent besties and villains played by Eternals’ Gemma Chan, The Walking Dead’s Lennie James, and The Hunger Games’ Lenny Kravitz.
We’ve got plenty more on 007 First Light, including a report on how Daniel Craig’s face was put into a Hitman map in order to secure the Bond rights, and how Queen Elizabeth II’s passing affected First Light’s development. And be sure to check out our extensive 007 First Light preview full of gameplay and story details.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
