007 First Light Switch 2 Version Is Still Coming, IO Interactive Boss Says
IO Interactive is trying to calm down Nintendo fans who are worried that 007 First Light might become another awkward Switch 2 delay story.
In an interview with Chris Dring from The Game Business, IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak said the upcoming James Bond game is still planned for Nintendo Switch 2. The studio is currently aiming for a late summer release window on the platform, which sounds roughly around August if everything stays on track.
The concern is understandable. Borderlands 4 was previously expected to launch on Switch 2 in October last year, only to be delayed, with development now paused. So when a major third-party game starts sounding a bit vague on Switch 2 timing, players naturally get nervous.
Abrak, however, was clear that 007 First Light is not being abandoned on Nintendo’s new hardware. According to him, the game is already running on Switch 2, but IO Interactive wants more time to polish it properly.
“It’s running on the Switch 2. We just want to make sure it’s good as it can be. I don’t want to hear it wasn’t a good version,” Abrak said.
He added that the studio had previously said summer, but the target is now likely late summer. Most importantly, he said IOI is still committed to getting it released.
“Bond has a special place on Nintendo. And I promise I will do everything I can, and I can do quite a lot being the CEO, to get that in a great shape.”
That last line is the one Nintendo fans will probably cling to. James Bond and Nintendo do have history, especially because of the legendary GoldenEye 007 era. For a lot of older gamers in Malaysia and SEA, Bond on Nintendo is not just another licensed action game — it has nostalgia weight.
But at the same time, Malaysian Switch owners have every reason to be cautious. Third-party ports on Nintendo hardware can be hit or miss, and when games launch in rough condition, local players feel it harder because physical copies, imports, and digital purchases are not exactly cheap impulse buys. Nobody wants to pay premium launch pricing just to get a version with unstable performance.
That concern is even sharper because IO Interactive already had performance issues with Hitman: World of Assassination on Switch 2. It launched with frame rate problems, and IOI later had to patch in a locked 30fps mode. So when Abrak says the team needs extra time to make 007 First Light “good as it can be”, that is probably a smart move rather than a red flag.
For SEA players, the best-case scenario is simple: take the extra weeks, optimise properly, and avoid a messy day-one situation. Switch 2 could be a great home for a cinematic spy game if the performance holds up, especially for players who want something portable but more premium than the usual casual library.
Still, the release window remains a bit soft. “Late summer” is encouraging, but until IO Interactive gives a firm date, it is worth keeping expectations realistic. The good news is that the CEO is publicly saying the Switch 2 version is happening. The bigger question now is whether it launches in a state that actually feels worth the wait.
Source: Nintendo Life
