IO Interactive Targets Late-Summer Switch 2 Launch of First Light

IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak confirmed that 007: First Light is running on Nintendo Switch 2 and that the studio is targeting a late-summer launch window. He cautioned the date could slip depending on how much additional work the team needs to complete.

Abrak told reporters the studio will not rush the Switch 2 version and needs extra time to meet its quality standards. “It’s running on the Switch 2. We just want to make sure it’s good as it can be. I don’t want to hear it wasn’t a good version. To be completely honest, we need a bit more time to get it where we want it to be. We said summer. It’s probably going be late summer. But we’re going to get it out,” he said. He added that the James Bond franchise has a connection to Nintendo and pledged to work to get the game into great shape.

The studio pointed to prior performance issues with a Switch 2 release as part of the context for the extra time. A recent Switch 2 launch title from the developer experienced unstable frame rates, and the studio issued a patch that introduced a locked 30 frames-per-second mode to address performance.

Other announced Switch 2 releases have faced delays. One high-profile title scheduled for the console was postponed from an October target and has since had development paused.

IO Interactive did not provide a specific calendar date beyond the late-summer window. The company said the final timing will depend on internal testing and any further optimization required to meet its standards.

007: First Light is part of IO Interactive’s slate of James Bond projects and will join the studio’s existing Hitman series in its portfolio.