Today marks the arrival of a major free update for 007 First Light: the Extended Operations DLC, which brings a suite of fresh features and improved gameplay elements to the popular James Bond title.
Extended Operations Update Delivers Core Improvements
Unveiled through an official press release and showcased in the latest trailer, this new content pack answers several top community requests. Headlining the additions are a flexible photo mode, a robust New Game Plus mode, an all-new challenging “00” difficulty setting, more TacSim mission content, and a variety of core gameplay adjustments.
Once players finish the campaign on any chosen difficulty, they gain access to New Game Plus. Entering this mode unlocks the “00 difficulty,” which the announcement describes as “considerably harder” than previous tiers. In this setting, the stakes are raised across every gameplay element—combat, stealth, and social interactions all become tougher. Expect tighter parry and dodging windows, two-hit kills, quicker enemy responses, deadlier guards, more limiting gadget rules while being observed, and a greater threat of receiving increased damage.
In addition, the update delivers notable changes to the way weapons handle, further refining Bond’s precision and control during combat. Enemies are now able to throw Bond off ledges, a dramatic counter previously exclusive to Bond himself—adding another layer of risk to tense encounters.
Additional TacSim Missions and Versatile Photo Mode
Players will find new TacSim missions among the update’s highlights. One scenario brings back the legendary Aston Martin Valhalla, outfitted with rocket-launchers. Here, you’ll be driving across the Slovakian mountains at different times of day, racing to complete objectives within time limits using the storied Bond vehicle.
A further TacSim challenge unfolds at Vietnam’s Pearl resort. Here, the mission centers on retrieving sensitive documents from a well-secured safe, then making a daring rooftop escape. The expansive villa location features a redesigned interior that increases viable stealth tactics, allowing players to choose diverse strategies for mission success.
007 First Light – Official Extended Operations Free DLC Launch Trailer
The long-awaited photo mode also debuts in this update. It gives players the ability to pause gameplay anywhere, including active combat sequences, to capture screenshots. The system offers adjustments for character positioning, intricate lighting controls, various lens options, visual effects, and many other tweaks, making for extensive creative photo opportunities throughout the game.
Developer’s Appreciation and Studio Updates
Game director Dominic Vega, who was previously mission director, introduced the update and shared his appreciation for the community in the accompanying trailer. In his message, he said, “This DLC is brought to you as a thank you to all the players who’ve been with us since the game’s release.” Vega also urged fans to revisit the game to explore the newly added challenges.
These enhancements follow the May launch of 007 First Light, which rapidly earned acclaim as a standout James Bond title in recent history. Reviews, such as Eurogamer’s analysis, highlighted the game’s appealing combat mechanics and signature Bond flair.
Sales have surpassed four million units within the first three months according to the latest data (details here), fueling speculation about a possible sequel from IO Interactive. Despite this success, the studio also faced a setback when Xbox withdrew its publishing support for IO’s Project Fantasy—a separate online role-playing game—around the time of 007 First Light’s launch.
With the rollout of today’s Extended Operations update at no cost, 007 First Light pushes forward with expanded content, harder trials, and new gameplay avenues for the James Bond fan community.