A new James Bond video game from developer IO Interactive (the folks behind the Hitman series) has just been announced, and in it we find a new face for Bond, and a slew of Omega watches, among other gadgets. The game, which is titled First Light, appears to be an origin story of a young Bond looking to take the rank of 007 among a battery of the usual shenanigans. The Hitman influence is clear from the gameplay, and it looks to follow a similar linear story path to what we found in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. All of this is a very good thing, and as games push toward higher fidelity, something as small as a watch has become instantly recognizable, which is certainly the case here.
Watches in video games are ripe territory to explore for brands looking to reach a new generation (or, even a different kind) of consumer. As we get a greater level of detail, products such as watches become more of a viable detail worth exploring. We saw it in the last installment of the Far Cry franchise, and more recently, in the preview of the upcoming Death Stranding 2: On the Beach in the form of a unique creation from Hamilton. Omega has been a part of the Bond franchise since Pierce Brosnan took on the 007 title in the ‘90s, and they’ve had a notable presence in the movies ever since.
In First Light, we get our first look at a new generation of Bond, as a young man entering the field after a rocky adolescence detailed in the opening stages of the trailer. As he checks in for the first time, we are led into what appears to be Q’s laboratory (complete with a car we’re sure to gain access to at some point in the story), where a long box with the Omega logo is opened to reveal seven watches, each appearing to be Seamaster 300M chronograph references. Bond examines one of the watches, which will surely provide some sort of utility beyond providing the time. Older gamers will remember the famous 007: Goldeneye released on the Nintendo 64 back in 1997, and a level requiring the use of a laser in our watch to open a hatch on a train (not unlike the film).
Later in the trailer, we find Bond checking the time, providing a more detailed view of the 300M Chronograph mounted to, what else, a striped NATO. It appears to use a black base colorway with orange accents, which doesn’t currently seem to exist in the brand’s catalog. If this is the case, it would follow a trend of the brand silently revealing yet-to-be-released references in high profile situations. If you ask me, this is a bit more exciting than a random celebrity sighting.
First Light is slated to release in 2026, and from the state of the trailer, I’d say it looks to be on track. That said, delays have become commonplace in the industry, so don’t hold your breath until we see something more concrete. The game will be releasing on all systems, including Switch 2. Keep an eye out for more details on the watches seen in the tailor coming soon. Omega
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