Sony dedicated its latest State of Play to 007: First Light, the upcoming James Bond adventure from IO Interactive. The themed showcase drew strong attention but fell somewhere in the middle compared to other recent PlayStation specials: watched by fewer people than the July spotlight on Ghost of Yotei, though still ahead of the one for Borderlands 4.
The broadcast featured nearly an hour of new material, including a 30-minute gameplay deep dive. Viewers were introduced to Bond’s first mission, set across several exotic locations, blending IO’s signature stealth systems with cinematic sequences that echo Uncharted’s pacing. Developers highlighted their aim to reinvent 007 while respecting the character’s roots, from dry wit and spy gadgets to globe-trotting backdrops. Early impressions across media likened it to a “Hitman meets Bond” hybrid, positioning the game as one of the more ambitious licensed titles in recent years.
In terms of livestreaming, the showcase peaked at just over 200,000 concurrent viewers, with the viewership cresting around the stream’s midpoint. PlayStation’s official YouTube channel was the single biggest contributor, responsible for roughly a quarter of the peak total.
Watch parties and influencer co-streams amplified reach: names like Saqib "LIRIK" Ali Zahid, Quintin “Quin69” Crawford and IGN ranked among the top contributors, underscoring how community and media coverage drive scale for these events.
While themed State of Play broadcasts are relatively rare, three of them have already taken place this year. On that scoreboard, 007 First Light finds itself in second place: behind Ghost of Yotei in terms of peak audience, but comfortably ahead of the showcase devoted to Borderlands 4.
Overall, the themed State of Play highlighted how strong the James Bond brand remains in gaming culture. While its livestream performance didn’t quite match Ghost of Yotei’s showcase, the event still drew significant global attention. With the game’s release on the horizon, 007 First Light is already shaping up to be one of the most closely watched titles of the coming year.
007 First Light is slated for release in 2026 and will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Developed by IO Interactive, the studio behind the Hitman series, the game promises a fresh narrative take on the Bond universe, introducing an original storyline rather than adapting an existing film. Fans will also see a blend of stealth, action, and espionage gameplay that closely follows IOI’s proven formula.
