007 First Light Becomes IO Interactive’s Fastest Game to Surpass 500K Steam Wishlists

IO Interactive has confirmed that 007 First Light has surpassed 500,000 wishlists on Steam, marking the fastest milestone achievement in the studio’s history, surpassing the performance of its acclaimed HITMAN titles. While impressive, the result is not entirely surprising given the global appeal of the 007 brand.

To thank the community, IO Interactive announced that the Savanna Bloom equippable skin will be available at launch, along with a set of animated wallpapers releasing soon. The studio also revealed additional “mission” rewards for further wishlist growth before release:

• Milestone 2: A custom gadget skin and a themed streaming overlay.

• Milestone 3: A deluxe agent skin and a live developer AMA session.

• Milestone 4: Classified content to be revealed later.

Initially unveiled in late 2020 as Project 007, the game was officially revealed as 007 First Light during Sony’s June 2025 State of Play with a cinematic trailer. IO Interactive has stated its ambition to develop a full-fledged 007 game trilogy, building on its expertise with sandbox gameplay design.

007 First Light tells the origin story of a young, daring, and resourceful James Bond. Players will witness Bond’s entry into MI6’s training program, sparked by a heroic act during his naval service. After joining the revived Double-O program, Bond’s mission to stop a rogue agent takes a tragic turn, forcing him to work alongside his reluctant mentor, Greenway, to uncover a conspiracy threatening a coup at the heart of the British government.

The narrative will span exotic global locations, high-speed chases in iconic vehicles, and intense action sequences, all while giving players freedom in how they approach each mission. True to IO Interactive’s design philosophy, missions can be completed with stealth, direct combat, gadgetry, or social manipulation. Replayability is emphasized through mission modifiers that encourage experimentation.

007 First Light is set to launch in 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

What’s your take on IO Interactive’s approach to a James Bond origin story? Should they lean more into cinematic storytelling or deep sandbox gameplay? Share your thoughts below.