Lighting, mood, vibe = all incredible in First Light.
007 First Light marks a triumphant return for gaming's most iconic spy, and IO Interactive has delivered something truly special with this one. Built on the studio's proprietary Glacier engine, the game is a satisfying slow burn that takes its time building tension, atmosphere, and intrigue in a way that feels authentically Bond.
Now, to set the record straight: This isn't a mindless action romp, it's a carefully paced espionage thriller that rewards patience and observation, letting you soak in every meticulously crafted environment along the way. From shadowy European safe houses to sun-drenched Mediterranean coastlines, every location feels like a set piece worthy of the silver screen.
Training is no joke in First Light and every detail is crisp and clean regardless of environment.
What immediately strikes you about 007 First Light is the sheer quality of its visual presentation. Thanks to the Glacier engine, IOI has achieved some of the best lighting and texture work we've ever seen in a modern game. Fabrics on Bond's tailored suits catch light with realistic subtlety, marble floors in opulent lobbies reflect overhead chandeliers with stunning clarity, and outdoor environments feature a level of material detail that makes every surface feel tangible and real. Bond has never looked this stunning, and the attention to detail extends to every corner of every scene, no matter how fleeting your time there might be.
Some of the most stunning lighting and texture work in modern gaming.
Running the game on both our RTX 5070 and RTX 5090 test machines, 007 First Light impresses across the board with all of NVIDIA's latest DLSS goodies. DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution keeps frame rates consistently smooth while preserving the fine detail that makes the Glacier engine's work shine, and Multi Frame Generation ensures that even the most graphically demanding sequences never miss a beat.
Whether you're on the flagship 5090 pushing maximum settings at 4K or enjoying a beautifully optimized experience on the 5070, the game delivers a premium visual showcase that does justice to both the Bond legacy and the hardware powering it.
Will you will pause frequently just to stop and stare at this game.
Incredibly, as gorgeous as 007 First Light already looks, the best may be yet to come. IO Interactive and NVIDIA have announced that full path tracing along with DLSS Ray Reconstruction will arrive in a summer 2026 update, promising the ultimate in visual quality for an already stunning game. We cannot wait to revisit and retest once those additions go live, as the prospect of fully path-traced Bond environments running on RTX hardware is almost too exciting to comprehend. IOI and NVIDIA have already shaken, not stirred the gaming world, and the future of 007 First Light looks brighter than ever!
