Ethan Carter
The James Bond franchise boasts a rich legacy of enlisting popular music artists to craft captivating theme songs, with iconic tracks like Live and Let Die standing out in memory. This cherished tradition is now making its way into the realm of video game adaptations centered around the legendary fictional spy. In an exciting announcement, IO Interactive revealed that the talented Lana Del Rey has collaborated on and performed the theme for 007 First Light, which serves as the developer’s immersive playable origin story of James Bond.
The song titled “First Light,” co-written by Lana Del Rey and esteemed composer David Arnold, aligns perfectly with the game’s atmosphere, echoing the moody and abstract visuals presented in the opening credits that accompany the piece. This artistic expression hints at the various themes woven throughout the game. As previously stated by IO Interactive, their latest creation explores a younger, more reckless version of Bond, showcasing his journey before he adopts the iconic cool demeanor associated with his character. Additionally, the game promises to incorporate advanced stealth mechanics that IO Interactive has expertly honed in their acclaimed Hitman series.
While Del Rey‘s gaming experience might primarily revolve around her popular song “Video Games,” which was inspired by a former boyfriend’s passion for World of Warcraft, she undoubtedly possesses the talent to create a song that resonates with the Bond legacy. In 2024, Lana Del Rey disclosed that her track “24” from the album Honeymoon was initially crafted as a contender for the 2017 film Spectre, among several other potential themes that were ultimately set aside in favor of Sam Smith’s hit “Writing’s on the Wall.”
007 First Light is set to launch on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC on May 27, 2026. Excitingly, a version of the game for Nintendo Switch 2 is also in the pipeline and is scheduled for release this summer.
Daniel Mercer
