007: First Light Metacritic Score Splits Gamers

3 weeks ago 19

Set to launch in just over 24 hours, 007 First Light has cemented itself as one of the most anticipated video game releases of the year, with many already expecting it to be a major Game of the Year contender. Developed by IO Interactive and based on the beloved James Bond franchise by author Ian Fleming, the action-adventure game will shine a light on Bond's origin story, as he embarks on his first ever mission with a license to kill.

With actor Patrick Gibson taking on the role of a younger Bond, 007 First Light will show us a side to the famous spy that we have not yet seen in the many movie adaptations over the years and, as such, fans have already been speculating as to how successful this James Bond-inspired action-adventure game will be.

Launching on 27 May, 007 First Light is just hours away from launch, and it has been a long time coming considering the game was delayed from its original 27 March release. However, it is finally upon us, but how will it perform against some of 2026's most successful titles?

Well, one user over on r/gaming recently proposed the question, sharing, "007 First Light Metacritic predictions? I have super high expectations and think it will be in the 90+ club from what I've seen so far. I'm hoping it plays as a cross between Max Payne 3 and Uncharted. With over 50 comments racked up, it is safe to say that those excited for 007 First Light have their own opinions on how it will perform.

"I think the game will be good, I think performance is going to be questionable," one user offered, whilst others suggested around the 70-80 score on Metacritic. However, another user believes that review scores do not make or break a game, sharing, "Why do gamers suddenly care about review scores? A couple of years ago, they wouldn't shut up about how they hated review scores, but now, if the review score isn't high enough, people will pass on a game. Look at gameplay to decide whether to get a game."

Over on a second Reddit thread, this time in r/007FirstLight, one user believes that IO Interactive's weaknesses may affect the game's overall Metacritic score. They said: "It will struggle due to IO’s lingering weakness with the story, be slightly buggy but not game-breakingly so. The reduction of Hitman-style level depth for a more cinematic Bond game feel will be divisive, but overall, critics will appreciate the ambition of it, and a much-needed entry in the genre which can only benefit the single-player gaming landscape if it does well."

With video games having a whiff of an LGBTQIA+ character or, god forbid, a pronoun selection, causing players to have a meltdown and score the game unfairly, it remains to be seen what will happen with 007 First Light when it launches on 27 May 2026.