007 First Light gets Switch 2 release date, with IO Interactive saying time for “optimisation and performance” was needed

The Switch 2 version of 007 First Light will be released 18th March, 2027, IO Interactive has announced. The game had originally been expected this summer but IOI announced a delay to an unspecific date in March roughly a month ago.

“Since announcing additional development time to ensure the quality of experience players expect, IO Interactive has brought hands-on builds of 007 First Light to both gamescom and Tokyo Game Show, where players and press had their first opportunity to experience Bond’s world running on Nintendo’s hardware,” the company said in a press release statement.

“Player response from both events has been positive, reflecting the progress being made across the game as development continues toward launch. The development team will use the coming months to continue refining the game’s optimisation and performance on Nintendo Switch 2, ensuring it meets the standard players expect at launch.”

Evidently, it hasn’t been a smooth transition. We’ve heard similar things from Capcom, for what it’s worth, with the Monster Hunter Wilds devs claiming it was a “painstaking, seemingly endless process” to get the game running well on Switch 2.

The date announcement coincides with pre-orders of a Deluxe Edition going live, which offers access to some extra clothes and gadgets in game. We’re also only a couple of weeks on from 007 First Light getting a bumper blob of add-on content, in the form of New Game Plus, a new, harder difficulty, a photo mode, more replayable TacSim challenge missions, and a bit of general game tuning. Presumably all of this will be included in the Switch 2 version when it launches.

As it stands, 007 First Light has been one of the stand-out successes of 2026, bringing James Bond back to gaming with flair and aplomb. The Hitman studio delivered a tight, exciting, cinematic single-player adventure filled with charm and wit – not unlike James Bond himself. Eurogamer’s gleaming 007 First Light review can tell you more.

The game also appears to have been a commercial success, having passed 4 million sales since release – and with a Switch 2 version to come, there’s more selling to do. I imagine it makes the likelihood of a sequel very strong, though newish Bond franchise owner Amazon has said it wants to be involved in whatever comes next, whereas IOI was the master of its own destiny with 007 First Light.

Meanwhile, IOI is also making a fantasy game called, well, Project Fantasy. This was announced as an online RPG in 2023, but faced a major setback recently when publisher Xbox pulled out of the project, forcing IOI to close one of its studios and make layoffs across the company – even in the aftermath of 007 First LIght’s success. IOI has since regained full ownership of the game and has vowed to continue to develop Project Fantasy independently.

The studio also continues to develop and expand Hitman World of Assassination, which recently added rapper Snoop Dogg as an elusive target.