New comments from 007 First Light narrative and cinematic director Martin Emborg are raising eyebrows among longtime James Bond fans.
In a recent interview, Emborg suggested the iconic spy has been reshaped to align with “modern values,” distancing the character from his traditional portrayal.
“Not Your Old School Bond”
When asked whether Bond’s smooth-talking, womanizing side would still be part of the character, Emborg confirmed it, but with heavy caveats (via MonsterVine):
“Yeah, you will. But obviously… the character Bond has evolved. So, he’s evolved through the decades, and obviously, we reflect modern values. So it’s not going to be your old school Bond, which would just be tone deaf in this day, right? He’s a modern guy.”
The phrasing immediately sparked concern, as “modern values” has become a familiar signal to fans wary of legacy characters being softened or rewritten to fit contemporary woke sensibilities.
A Different Take on James Bond
007 First Light focuses on a young, inexperienced Bond during his early MI6 training, which already marks a departure from the confident, fully formed agent audiences know.
Emborg’s comments suggest the game will further distance itself from classic Bond traits that defined the character for decades.
While IO Interactive has stressed player choice, cinematic storytelling, and espionage-driven gameplay, fans are now questioning how far the reinterpretation goes and whether Bond’s edge will remain intact.
Release info
007 First Light was recently delayed and is currently scheduled to release May 27, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
