3 secret connections between Daniel Craig’s Bond and the new game

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Though Daniel Craig’s portrayal of James Bond ended with the film No Time to Die, his impact is still noticeable in the new video game, 007 First Light.

Irish actor Patrick Gibson steps into the famous lead role, and he’s already familiar with the director’s films.

Daniel Craig’s James Bond movies were some of the first truly immersive cinematic experiences I had,” Gibson shared with TopMob Gaming.

I grew up going to the movies around the same time Craig was becoming well-known, so it feels very personal and a little odd to now be taking on this role.

I’ve been following the development of this new game closely, and I kept hearing how much of an impact Craig had on it. It’s really cool to see that legacy live on! I learned about three hidden ways the game actually connects back to his work, and I’m excited to share them!

The resurrection

While working on the game, Martin Emborg, who directed the story and cut-scenes for 007 First Light, kept a specific line spoken by Daniel Craig in mind.

Emborg mentioned that continuing the story with an origin tale after where Craig finished is exciting and a great idea. He recalled a line from the movie Skyfall – ‘Everybody needs a hobby. What’s yours?’ – as a good example of Craig’s writing.

“He’s being asked what his hobby is, and he says, ‘Resurrection.’

I think that’s really neat, and it’s something I’ve thought about occasionally. However, we’re definitely pursuing our own independent path and aren’t connected to those movies.

Even though Bond has publicly mentioned he’d be open to returning to the role, it’s interesting to imagine ‘First Light’ as the next chapter for the same iconic character Daniel Craig previously played.

The combat

Thomas Marcham, a lead combat designer at IO Interactive, explained that his team thoroughly reviewed all the James Bond films to create an authentic combat experience for the game’s version of 007. He shared this information during a visit to IO Interactive’s office in Brighton.

Our game features a lot of characters throwing objects, an idea we borrowed from films like Thunderball. From the beginning, we noticed James Bond consistently uses his surroundings in inventive ways, and that’s become a key element we’ve tried to capture throughout the game, as it’s a common thread in all the Bond movies.

The books don’t focus much on fight scenes, but the movies really showcase inventive and spontaneous combat. It often feels like the character doesn’t have a set strategy going into a fight, yet manages to react effectively and things work out as the battle unfolds.

The game’s fight sequences were shaped by all of the films, but Daniel Craig’s James Bond movies had a particularly strong impact.

We often draw inspiration from the action sequences in the Daniel Craig Bond films – they’re really well-choreographed. However, we also want to create a fresh take on Bond, so we blend that inspiration with our own unique style.

He’s noticeably less seasoned and experienced than in previous films, and we wanted the fight choreography to reflect that. While we’re still drawing inspiration from the more tactical fights of the Daniel Craig era, we’re also incorporating a lot more boxing and mixed martial arts techniques – the kind of skills someone might pick up in a real street fight. This helps show his relative inexperience.

I was really curious – is there one fight scene with Daniel Craig that always comes to mind when people think about his action style? Like, is there a moment that really shows what he brings to those roles?

According to Marcham, one of his favorite action sequences is surprisingly short. It’s in the movie Skyfall, where a character has a gun with only one bullet. He misses with the shot, but still manages to defeat five opponents.

We aimed to capture the classic Bond fighting style in the game – a resourceful, clever approach that doesn’t rely on brute force or even having the advantage. It’s about being able to turn any situation around, and that’s what we feel truly defines Bond.

The costumes

Emborg also mentioned a link to the James Bond film era, explaining that they collaborated closely with costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb, who worked on the game as well.

Working with her was a truly insightful experience. She asked such thoughtful questions about each character to help design their costumes, and those conversations were some of the best I’ve ever had about character development.

It really highlights how much detail is overlooked in game design, especially when it comes to clothing. While games often have fantastic concept art, things like how a suit actually fits and drapes – the cut of a jacket, for example – are often missed. This is particularly noticeable when creating characters like James Bond, where the suit is such an iconic part of their look.

It takes a real talent and deep understanding to do this well. Collaborating with someone like Suttirat, who has extensive experience on many films, was a fantastic experience and really took the project to the next level.

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Game costumes might not get much attention, but according to Emborg, they’re a key part of telling a character’s story. He specifically points to the character’s jacket, explaining that a lot of thought went into its design to reflect who he is. They wanted to convey a sense of youthful rebellion, like a young James Bond with a bit of a ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ vibe, and even looked at the iconic red jacket from that film for inspiration.

We discussed how the jacket reflects a naval tradition, particularly in the materials used. While people won’t immediately recognize all the details from a distance, these subtle choices ultimately contribute to the jacket’s overall character and story.

Did Larlarb talk about anything interesting that happened while making the movie No Time To Die? Emboar mentioned he did, but also hinted there are some stories he’s not allowed to reveal.

Like a classic Bond secret, details about those stories are confidential. However, it’s worth noting that this new game, while starting Bond’s journey as a rookie agent with a new actor, still connects to the previous films starring Daniel Craig.

I’m still trying to figure out if ‘First Light’ will be as beloved as the stories Craig made, and honestly, only time will really tell. But the team behind it seems really optimistic – they’re already hinting at making more! It’s exciting to think about where they could take things next.

007 First Light launches 27 May for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. You can order your copy now.

Authors

Rob LeaneGaming Editor

Rob Leane leads gaming coverage at TopMob, managing news and features for games on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, mobile, and VR. He creates content for TopMob’s website, social media, and video platforms, and also produces their weekly gaming newsletter. Before joining TopMob, Rob worked at Den of Geek, Stealth Optional, and Dennis Publishing.

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2026-05-19 11:36