James Bond has one of the richest histories out there, with the character dating all the way back to the 1950s. Almost a decade later, Sean Connery undertook the role of the super spy in Dr. No, and 007 has been a cinema staple ever since.
His dominance didn’t stop at the big screen, as he’s had a ton of video game spin-offs, with 007 First Light being the latest. As you can imagine, it can be tough to keep up with the Bond canon, and IO Interactive’s upcoming game has thrown another spanner in the works with their brand new origin story.
It begs the question: is 007 First Light part of the James Bond canon, and is the game related to the films in any way? For all you Bond purists out there, hopefully this clears the air a little bit.
What Is The James Bond Canon?
Generally speaking, there have been two canon runs for James Bond, with the first 20 films all part of the same canon, whilst Daniel Craig’s movies served as a reboot for the franchise.
Whilst it might seem hard to wrap your head around, since there were five different Bond actors throughout the original film franchise, it’s best to think of them like a comic book. They all loosely tied into one another, but with different writers and artists throughout the years, telling one winding adventure.
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However, when Daniel Craig took the hot seat with Casino Royale in 2006, it served as a reboot for the Bond franchise, resetting the canon. All of Craig’s films are much stricter with continuity, as they flow seamlessly from one to the next.
Of course, now that it’s wrapped up, it’s unclear whether a new actor will step in and continue his story, or if we’ll see another Bond reboot. Pair that with 007 First Light coming out, and you can see where the confusion stems from: will the game fit into a prior canon, or could it maybe be the first step to succeeding Daniel Craig?
Is 007 First Light Canon In James Bond?
The simple answer is no, 007 First Light isn’t canon in the general James Bond lore, as the game doesn’t tie into the movies in any way.
Instead, IO Interactive is looking to tell its own unique James Bond story, with the game serving as an origin story. You’ll follow Bond as he begins as an MI6 recruit and eventually evolves into the 007 agent we all know him for.
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Naturally, the developers have taken tons of inspiration from the plethora of source material, so in spirit it should feel like a story ripped straight from the classic Bond stories that you’ve grown to love—just adapted to a video game format.
Interestingly, it was originally discussed whether the game would be canonical when IOI had early talks with Amazon MGM, the owners of the Bond IP. Despite that, it was ultimately decided that the game would live alongside the future of 007, but not be overtly connected.
Were you hoping 007 First Light would be canonical to other James Bond entries? Share your thoughts in the official Insider Gaming Discord Server.
For more 007 First Light content, check out the following:
- 007 First Light Game Pass & Early Access Status, Explained
- 007 First Light Release Date & All Platforms, Explained
- How Long Is 007 First Light? Game Length & Total Hours, Explained
Charlie is one of Insider Gaming's Guides Writers who's been in the gaming industry for a little over a year. Unfortunately for him, he enjoys every video game genre out…
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