The Switch 2 launch window is shaping up to be a strong one, but 007 First Light won't be part of the day-one lineup on Nintendo's new hardware. The game, developed by IO Interactive (the studio behind the Hitman trilogy), launches May 27 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The 007 First Light site traces the project back to IO's 2020 announcement, and it's been one of the most anticipated releases tied to Nintendo's new console. Switch 2 owners, though, will have to wait a little longer.
What IO's CEO actually said
In a recent interview with The Game Business, Hakan Abrak was asked directly whether the Switch 2 version was heading toward the same fate as Borderlands 4, which was indefinitely delayed on the platform back in September 2025, days before its planned release, with no sign of it in the eight months since.
Abrak's response was immediate. "No, no, no. It's running. It's running on Switch 2," he said. "We must just admit that we want to make sure that it's as good as... I don't want to hear 'oh, it wasn't a good version, blah blah blah', so we just, to be completely honest, we need a bit more time to get it where we want it to be."
He confirmed the window has shifted from summer to late summer, but was firm that the version is happening. "We're going to get it out."
The Switch 2 version of 007 First Light is now targeting late summer. The PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC release on May 27 is unaffected.
Bond's history on Nintendo hardware
Abrak didn't just offer reassurances, he went further, invoking the franchise's history on Nintendo platforms. GoldenEye 007 on the Nintendo 64 is still one of the most beloved shooters ever made, and that legacy clearly carries weight at IO.
"Bond has a special place on that platform, on Nintendo," Abrak said. "And I promise I will do everything, and I can do quite a lot in IO's context, being the CEO as well, I'll do everything to get that out in great shape."
Here's the thing: that's not just PR talk. Abrak also reflected on IO's Switch history, noting that the original Hitman cloud streaming version on Switch back in 2021 was "a bit of an experiment" that didn't land the way they hoped. Getting Hitman: World of Assassination running natively on Switch 2 as a launch title has been a better experience by his own account, and that groundwork appears to be informing how the studio is approaching First Light.
The Borderlands 4 shadow looming over Switch 2
The comparison to Borderlands 4 isn't just a throwaway reference. That situation has become a cautionary tale for Switch 2 ports. Gearbox announced a delay days before launch and has gone quiet since, leaving Nintendo players with no update and no timeline. For a platform that launched with real momentum, that kind of radio silence from third-party developers is exactly what Nintendo and its players don't want to see repeated.
Abrak's willingness to address it directly, and to push back on the comparison with specifics rather than vague assurances, is notable. The Switch 2 version of 007 First Light is actively in development, it runs, and the delay is about polish rather than fundamental technical problems.
What most players miss in these situations is the difference between a delay that signals trouble and one that signals discipline. IO appears to be in the latter camp.
Early hands-on coverage of the PS5 and PC version has been positive, with VGC calling it "a game of the year contender, and maybe the best Bond game yet" after a three-hour preview session. For the full picture on what to expect from the game at launch, check out the 007 First Light release date and controller design details ahead of the May 27 drop. Switch 2 owners waiting on their version can also browse our latest gaming news to stay across any further updates as the late summer window approaches.
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