007 First Light gameplay showcases cinematic Aston Martin car chase

For the first time in well over a decade, James Bond is returning to video games, with the upcoming release of 007 First Light.

Developed by IO Interactive, best known for the Hitman series, you play as a younger James Bond, starting as a Royal Navy air crew member before becoming an MI6 spy. Last night’s PlayStation State of Play showcased the first 007 First Light gameplay, providing a closer look at the game’s action-driving set pieces.

Driving will be a core mechanic in the new James Bond game. The gameplay video begins with Bond acting as a chauffeur to infiltrate a hotel. Throughout the playable sequence, Bond is shown driving a luxury Jaguar XJ, one of several licensed vehicles seen in the game.

The action then skips forward to a high-speed car chase scene, with Bond behind the wheel of a vintage Aston Martin DBS in pursuit of rogue agent 009 escaping in a Jaguar XKR Coupe. Set on twisty mountain roads in Slovakia, this scene was also previewed in the announcement trailer.

Specifically, the Aston Martin looks like a callback to DBS in the 1969 film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, in which George Lazenby played Bond. Meanwhile, the car’s mustard paint colour could be a nod to the yellow DBS that Bond actor Roger Moore drove in The Persuaders.

The action-packed scene is comparable to Uncharted 4’s Madagascar Jeep chase level, as the DBS destroys fences, smashes into fruit stands and jumps down stairs.  

These aren’t the only driving sequences in the 30-minute gameplay reveal, either. In the final sequence, Bond jumps onto a cargo plane by commandeering a drivable airport truck during a shootout while being chased by SUVs (they look like Range Rover knock-offs).

With a mix of stealth, action and driving, IO Interactive appears to have nailed the vibe of the James Bond franchise, right down to his well-timed quips. Driving is new territory for the developer, so we’re curious to see how the vehicles handle. With plenty of extended tailslides and smoking tyres, the driving looks cinematic, but the sense of speed has room for improvement.

Even though the vehicles are licensed, they take minor damage, with the Aston Martin losing its rear bumper and accumulating paint scratches in the gameplay video.

Driving sequences were a staple of past James Bond games like Agent Under Fire, Nightfire, Everything or Nothing and Bloodstone, with the latter developed by former Blur studio Bizarre Creations. 007 First Light is set to continue this tradition.

While James Bond’s latest video game foray looks visually stunning, we noticed some frame rate dips throughout the gameplay video. At least the developer has plenty of time to improve the performance in time for launch, which si six months away.

007 First Light is set to release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintnedo Switch 2 on 27^th March, 2026.