The star of Final Fantasy 16 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Ben Starr, revealed that he auditioned for the role of James Bond in 007 First Light. Starr says he recorded a scene from the movie "GoldenEye" — and, to his own amusement (and slight embarrassment), it went horribly. He was invited to the studio afterward, yet the role did not come his way. He’s actually relieved about that outcome: Patrick Gibson was cast and, Starr noted with genuine warmth, handled the part superbly. Starr also spoke up for his colleague’s work and for the game’s design as a whole.
007 First Light was released on May 27 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series. The Nintendo Switch 2 edition, it should be recalled, was postponed to summer. Early reviewers even pitched it as a possible "Game of the Year" contender. Gamers and critics responded positively to the action; technical teams, esp. Digital Foundry, praised its engineering. Sales have already exceeded the mark of three million copies. At Summer Game Fest 2026, the creators shared plans to continue supporting the title over the coming months — ongoing updates and add-ons, as they put it.