Review: 007 First Light Is A Technical Standout on PS5 and PS5 Pro
007 First Light marks a significant technical achievement for the James Bond franchise, leveraging IO Interactive’s Glacier Engine to deliver sophisticated graphics and performance across multiple platforms. The game features advanced ray-traced global illumination combining screen-space tracing with probe-based fallback, representing a notable evolution from the studio’s previous work on Hitman 3.
Performance varies considerably across platforms. On base PS5, the game runs at 60fps in Performance Mode with a 720p internal resolution and 30fps in Quality Mode at 1080p. PS5 Pro delivers a substantially enhanced experience with superior frame pacing and image quality. Xbox Series X achieves 4K at 30fps in Quality Mode (native 1440p-1662p) and 4K at 60fps in Performance Mode (native 864p-1080p), with generally smooth frame rates in both modes. Xbox Series S handles the title at lower resolutions across its quality tiers.
The technical accomplishment stands in stark contrast to previous Bond games, positioning 007 First Light as the most polished release in the franchise in years—comparisons to the critically-acclaimed Goldeneye highlight the significance of this advancement. The game’s presentation demonstrates the developer’s five-year investment in engine improvements, though the noticeable gap between standard PS5 and PS5 Pro versions suggests players seeking optimal visual fidelity will benefit from the newer hardware.