Last verified 2026-09-25 by ReviewGamers Editorial
IO Interactive built its reputation on Hitman’s open-ended, planning-heavy stealth. 007: First Light comes from the same studio, which makes the obvious question worth answering directly: is this Bond’s version of Hitman, or something else?
It’s explicitly not a Hitman reskin
IO Interactive has said directly that First Light is “definitely not a reskin” of Hitman, and the design leans that claim into practice: it’s a third-person action-adventure blending gunfights, melee combat, stealth and exploration across a campaign reported at roughly 15-20 hours — a fixed narrative structure, not Hitman’s replayable sandbox-level format.
The balance tilts toward action, deliberately
PlayStation’s own preview coverage describes the game as balancing open-ended Hitman-style stealth with authored, cinematic action sequences — but explicitly notes the emphasis sits more on action than Hitman’s stealth-and-planning core, despite coming from the same studio. If you’re expecting Hitman’s slow, methodical infiltration style as the default mode, First Light isn’t built that way.
The License to Kill system is the mechanic that shapes the whole feel
A specific system called “License to Kill” restricts lethal force until enemies escalate the situation first, pushing players toward gadgets and melee takedowns as the default approach rather than guns-first play. This is the mechanic doing most of the work to keep some Bond-appropriate restraint in a game that otherwise leans more action-forward than IO’s stealth pedigree might suggest.
Multiple ways to play the same scenario
Despite the action lean, the game still supports varied approaches within its levels — third-person shooting, melee combat, and stealth options coexist, so players who want to play quieter aren’t locked out of that approach entirely, even if the campaign’s authored action beats push toward more direct confrontation at key story moments.
The practical takeaway
If you’re buying First Light expecting a Bond-flavoured Hitman, temper that expectation — it’s closer to a stealth-flavoured action-adventure with a License to Kill system keeping some tactical restraint, built around a fixed cinematic campaign rather than Hitman’s open sandbox structure.