The latest action-adventure title, '007: First Light,' which explores the origins of the world's most famous secret agent, is set to arrive next March. Following the release date announcement, the gameplay trailer confirms that IO Interactive—the studio behind the Hitman series—is bringing their signature stealth mechanics, high-octane chases, and cinematic combat to the table.

IO Interactive showcased the core gameplay of 007: First Light during the Sony 'State of Play' event in the early hours of the 4th. The protagonist is a 26-year-old, hot-blooded James Bond. The game chronicles the journey of a young naval hero as he transforms into the top operative for the British Secret Intelligence Service. Along the way, Bond must work with allies to unravel a massive conspiracy and prevent a coup d'état at the heart of the nation.

The 30-minute demo at State of Play provided a deep dive into the main features. The flow starts with Bond, tasked as a driver, arriving at the mission site only to spot a suspicious bellboy, prompting a closer investigation. Naturally, this leads straight into a high-speed car chase and intense combat.

The stealth segment sees Bond infiltrating a castle to track that suspicious bellboy. By grabbing a lighter from an NPC and setting fire to a pile of leaves in a cart to create a distraction, Bond slips through a second-story window via ledges and pipes. There are plenty of tools scattered across the map to experiment with. This is just one way to do it; you can also find other characters and items to bypass security. It is precisely the kind of freedom you would expect from the developers of Hitman.

Following this, the car chase and the combat that shifts between ground and air feel like a blockbuster flick. During the car chase, Bond weaves through oncoming traffic and smashes through fences with reckless abandon. The combat is essentially a third-person shooter, allowing for dramatic moments like shooting gas canisters to trigger explosions. There is even a breathless sequence where Bond climbs onto the wing of a plane mid-flight to take on enemies. If the stealth feels like Hitman, the chases and combat are pure 007 cinema.

The watch Bond wears is particularly eye-catching. In the stealth section, it served as a tool to fire a dart that induces stomach cramps in NPCs, while on the plane, it functioned as a hacking device to adjust the flight angle. During the developer commentary, we even caught a glimpse of it firing a laser beam. The development team confirmed that 007: First Light features 'Q-Gadgets,' and the materials required for these gadgets can be acquired through gameplay.

007: First Light announced its release date alongside the State of Play and has opened pre-orders. The game launches on Steam on March 28 next year for 79,000 won. It arrives on Xbox Series X/S on March 27 next year for 79,000 won, and on PS5 on March 26 next year for 86,900 won. Please note that these dates and prices are based on the domestic store listings, so there may be slight regional variations.