The reviews are dropping faster than a henchman off a dam, and the verdict on IO Interactive's 007 First Light is looking spicy. According to a roundup published by Pure Xbox, the first wave of critic scores has arrived for the Bond origin story game - and the question on everyone's lips is whether this thing is a legit GOTY contender.
Pure Xbox notes that even their own staff writer, who managed to get three hours of hands-on time with the game, couldn't call it either way yet. Three hours. That's barely enough time to pick a tuxedo, let alone save the world.
Why this matters
IO Interactive is no stranger to playing dress-up as a suave assassin - these are the folks who turned Agent 47 into a household name with the modern Hitman trilogy. Handing them the keys to Bond's Aston Martin felt either like an absolute masterstroke or the kind of dev decision that makes shareholders sweat. Early review buzz suggests it might actually be the former.
The fact that Pure Xbox is floating the GOTY conversation this early in the cycle is significant. We're not even halfway through 2026 and the discourse is already heating up like a villain's underground volcano lair. If the full review spread backs up the hype, 007 First Light could be the stealth drop of the year - pun absolutely intended.
What we know so far
- IO Interactive developed the title, bringing their Hitman sandbox DNA to the Bond universe
- First reviews have started arriving, per Pure Xbox's roundup
- At least one writer logged three hours of preview time and still couldn't reach a verdict - suggesting the game has some depth to it
- The GOTY conversation has officially been unlocked as an achievement
Whether 007 First Light ends up being a prestige blockbuster or just a very well-dressed mid experience remains to be seen as more review scores roll in. But right now, the early signs are enough to make even the most cynical gamer raise an eyebrow - and not just the one Roger Moore used to raise. Check out the full review roundup over at Pure Xbox for the breakdown.
