*The Living Daylights* opening revealed—did this one finally nail the Bond vibe?

It has style. At the very least, this opening nails the tone right away.
What IO Interactive revealed this time isn’t gameplay footage, but an intro sequence with a very clear attitude. It goes straight for the most iconic aesthetic symbols of the 007 films—silhouettes, dynamic set pieces, and interwoven credits—and the goal is obvious: to make players believe from the start that this really is Bond.

More importantly, it doesn’t stop at surface-level imitation. The moment Lana Del Rey’s voice comes in, the whole retro spy-thriller vibe clicks into place—cool, mysterious, and slightly dangerous. Put together, these elements do more than simply shouting “we’re making 007.” The job of an opening cinematic was never to show off system depth; it’s to lock in the world and the sense of identity first, and on that front, it succeeds.

The choice of subject matter is also solid. 007 First Light tells Bond’s origin story—not as the already unstoppable finished-product agent, but as a young recruit just entering MI6. His first mission is supposed to be a straightforward hunt for a traitor, but he ends up stepping straight into a high-level political conspiracy. The advantage of this setup is obvious: the character has room to grow, and the plot can more easily create a sense of pressure.
From the premise, what the game wants to explain is not “how powerful 007 is,” but “how 007 became 007.” That feels fresher than telling another story about a fully formed agent carrying out missions, and it makes for a stronger reboot-style entry point for the series.

My take on this game is simple: the opening looks promising, but the real test still lies ahead. IO Interactive already has experience with stealth, pacing, and level tension; it proved with Hitman that it can handle high-pressure situations and identity-based disguise mechanics. But 007 isn’t just a pure stealth game—it also needs chases, gunfights, narrative momentum, and cinematic presentation. Whether all of that can be balanced is still impossible to say.

If you’re a 007 fan, this opening cinematic is worth watching, because it at least shows that the developers understand what this IP most needs to preserve. If you’re just a player, though, don’t rush to overhype it—wait for actual gameplay, that’s what really matters. Style is only the ticket in; gameplay is what closes the deal.
The game is already set to release on May 28, 2026, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. You can remember the name for now, but there’s no need to get too excited too early. What really matters is whether it dares to show extended gameplay footage afterward.