IO Interactive has spent years refining replay-driven systems through Hitman, where challenge modes and escalating scenarios turned single levels into long-term sandboxes.
When Gemma Chan was introduced in September 2025 as Dr. Selina Tan in 007 First Light, Head of Tactical Simulations at MI6, the connection to that design philosophy was hard to ignore.
Early footage placed her inside Q Branch, but it quickly became clear that she was not replacing Q. Instead, her focus is on simulations and training — pointing toward a system built around revisiting missions, testing abilities, and engaging with structured challenges beyond the campaign.
Even then, her division stood out as the part of 007 First Light most likely to carry IO Interactive’s replay-driven approach — and to keep players engaged long after finishing the story.
So, let’s take a closer look at what is already known — based on the Rules of Spycraft trailer, as well as hands-on previews and interviews surrounding the game.
Inside TacSim: MI6’s Dream Factory for Agent Training
TacSim operates as a controlled simulation space, but within 007 First Light, it is presented as a fully realized MI6 department rather than an abstract system.
The division sits within Q Branch, with Dr. Selina Tan describing her approach to immersive agent training as a kind of “Dream Factory.” That idea is reflected in the environment itself.
In the main room, TacSim has its own visual identity, including a dedicated logo: a knight chess piece embedded within a gun barrel, combining strategy with classic Bond iconography. From here, players access a central control interface where missions and challenges are selected, along with their chosen outfit.
Once a scenario is set, Bond moves deeper into the facility into a VR-like simulation area. As he enters, the surroundings begin to dissolve, suggesting a transition from the physical MI6 space into a reconstructed mission environment.
Additional areas are hinted at as well. One appears to be dedicated to equipment, likely where unlocked upgrades and loadouts are managed. Another is associated with collectibles, which have been confirmed to be displayed within TacSim, even if this space has not yet been shown in detail.
Escalations: The Core Structure of TacSim
At the heart of TacSim are Escalations — structured mission variants built on campaign locations.
Each escalation is divided into tiers, which increase in difficulty, and challenges, which define the conditions of each stage. Instead of replaying a mission once, players move through evolving versions of the same level, with each tier introducing new constraints.
The first two escalations — Iceland (Advanced Tactical Training) and Malta (Advanced Close Combat Training) — unlock immediately after completing those missions and effectively act as an extended tutorial, allowing players to revisit early scenarios and deepen their understanding of the game’s core systems.
By contrast, all other escalations unlock only after completing the campaign, as confirmed in a preview article on the Epic Games Store — positioning TacSim, beyond its early tutorial scenarios, as the game’s primary endgame and long-term content.
At the same time, this would be a somewhat unusual structure — if it holds in its current form. 007 First Light repeatedly brings Bond back to MI6 throughout the story, yet outside of the two early training missions, players may not be able to meaningfully engage with TacSim again until the campaign is complete.
A comment from IO Interactive’s Theuns Smit, given to CGMOnline.com, adds some nuance — even if it leaves room for interpretation:
“And then, as soon as you have completed the main game, all of Tac-Sim opens up for you. At some point before that, there’s a section of it that’s open for you, so we kind of play in between there, and that gives a nice incentive as well to have that experience.”
It remains unclear whether this “section” refers to the two early training scenarios in Iceland and Malta, or to additional content unlocked before the end of the campaign.
TacSim Objectives: What You Actually Do
The objectives within TacSim vary depending on the escalation and tier, and so far only a few examples have been shown.
Some challenges focus on direct action. In the Mauretania escalation “Lords of Rust”, players are tasked with eliminating all hostile pirates, often under stricter conditions in later tiers.
Others introduce additional objectives, such as locating hidden notes or data discs placed within the level, sometimes in less obvious areas like a laundry room. These elements may be randomized in their placement, encouraging players to search actively rather than rely on memorization.
007 First Light already builds a wide range of possibilities into its campaign missions — the Webb Industries gala in Kensington being a good example. Even within the story, these levels offer multiple approaches and a surprising amount of flexibility.
At the same time, from what has been shown so far, TacSim appears to focus on scenarios that are more detached from the narrative, built as structured challenges. That makes sense within the fiction, but it also opens up an interesting possibility: revisiting those same story missions from entirely new angles.
In Hitman, IO Interactive has already explored this approach, allowing players to return to familiar locations under new conditions while preserving the narrative context of the level.
Entering the Kensington gala through a supplier entrance, or approaching it from above via a base jump, would offer fresh perspectives on a familiar space while still keeping its narrative grounding.
The same idea carries over to vehicle sequences. Even if they are more linear in the campaign, TacSim could explore variations — starting the pursuit of 009 in Slovakia directly in an Aston Martin Valhalla, adding encounters along the route, or reimagining urban moments, such as racing through London in a tuk-tuk instead of the garbage truck seen in the story.
At this stage, it’s worth keeping in mind that only a small portion of TacSim has been shown so far. With additional content already announced for after launch, the system feels well positioned to expand over time — potentially opening up new ways to experience both its challenges and the game’s most memorable missions.
Changing the Rules: How TacSim Challenges Players
TacSim doesn’t just add objectives — it actively changes how missions are played.
Challenges can introduce strict modifiers, such as disabling gadgets entirely, limiting effectiveness to ranged weapons, or requiring headshots for enemies to take damage — all examples already mentioned by the developers, with some scenarios going even further through stronger enemies or instant mission failure if open combat breaks out or stealth is compromised.
These changes don’t simply increase difficulty — they alter the logic of the level, forcing players to rethink their approach.
At the same time, TacSim appears to expand the sandbox. While certain gadgets may be restricted in the campaign, they are broadly available here, with IO Interactive planning to add additional interaction points for them within levels over time.
Progression: XP, Intel and Agent Score
TacSim is tied to a progression system that rewards performance rather than simple completion.
Each run is evaluated through an Agent Score, which feeds into global and friends leaderboards and encourages players to refine their approach.
Completing simulations grants XP and Intel. XP increases Bond’s Clearance Level and unlocks access to new cosmetic options, while Intel is used to acquire them. For example, missions such as the early simulations in Iceland and Malta, as well as individual tiers in Mauretania, are shown to reward around 100 Intel points each.
This raises a key question: what exactly is Intel?
A plausible interpretation is that Intel serves a dual purpose within 007 First Light.
As a resource within TacSim, it is used to unlock rewards. At the same time, it may also exist as a collectible within the campaign.
In practice, this could mean that discovering a document during a mission — a file, report, or hidden note — not only unlocks a journal entry, but also grants a set amount of Intel, for example 20 points, which can later be used in TacSim.
This theory is supported by an earlier IO Interactive design document, where Intel appeared alongside categories such as Mementos and Swiss Playing Cards. Mementos, for instance, were described as mission-specific souvenirs, including objects like a gold ring with an octopus motif resembling the Spectre symbol.
While this document may reflect an earlier concept, another detail strengthens the connection. Official press materials on IO Interactive’s website explicitly mention that TacSim features a dedicated in-world area where collectibles are displayed. This suggests that items gathered during the campaign, such as Mementos, may physically appear within the simulation environment.
If Intel can also be found during story missions, players would be able to unlock TacSim rewards even without deeply engaging with the mode itself.
Unlocks: What TacSim Rewards Actually Look Like
TacSim doesn’t just reward performance — it unlocks tangible upgrades and customization options. From what has been shown so far, this includes weapon and gadget improvements, such as skins for Bond’s service pistol or upgrades like increased damage for the laser strap of the Q Watch.
Cosmetics, however, appear to be a major part of that system. According to preview coverage from YouTuber JorRaptor, alternative outfits are, at least at launch, only usable within TacSim rather than the story campaign. As things stand, Bond’s appearance in the campaign remains tied to specific missions and narrative context, while customization is largely handled within TacSim.
Outfits are organized into categories such as Formal, Casual, Tactical, and Themed. These bring together items from different sources, including story-related gear, promotional content, and pre-order bonuses.
A closer look at one of the screenshots shifts the focus to how these outfits might be unlocked. The Day of the Dead outfit from the Deluxe Edition — inspired by Daniel Craig’s look in Spectre — is marked as “TacSim Only.”
In this context, the label most likely refers to how the outfit is obtained. It suggests that a large portion of outfits can be unlocked directly through TacSim, tying cosmetic progression closely to its challenges and rewards.
The same image supports that reading. Alongside the Deluxe outfit, Bond’s training outfit from the Malta mission is visible — which could plausibly be unlocked through completing that mission, its challenges, or related collectibles. Promotional outfits and bonus content likely follow a similar pattern, originating outside TacSim but still being usable within it.
A more nuanced interpretation remains possible. While alternative outfits appear to be restricted to TacSim, the story mode could still allow limited variation — but only within its own context. In that case, outfits unlocked through the campaign itself, such as Bond’s training gear from the Malta mission, might be usable both in other story segments and within TacSim, whereas more stylized or promotional outfits like Day of the Dead would remain confined to TacSim.
From a design perspective, the approach makes sense. Concentrating alternative outfits within TacSim creates a clear incentive to engage with the mode and ties cosmetic rewards directly to its progression.
At the same time, it may also come as a disappointment to some players. For months, new outfits have been showcased through trailers, promotions, and rewards, naturally leading many to expect they could use them during the story. If these looks are ultimately locked behind TacSim — a mode that was only fully revealed shortly before release — it can feel like a slap in the face.
A possible middle ground would be to expand the system over time. For example, higher-tier TacSim challenges could eventually unlock certain outfits for use within the story campaign as well. That way, TacSim remains the core progression space, while still letting players bring their earned customization into key narrative moments.
Overall, the first impression of TacSim is a strong one. The system clearly has potential, even if we’ve only seen a fraction of what it can become. For now, the focus remains on the story — everything else will follow.
Sources:
Store.EpicGames.com – Earn the Number: A 007 First Light interview and hands-on
YouTube.com – YorRaptor – I Played 007 First Light – The Good & Bad…
CGMOnline.com – 007 First Light Is Chasing Bond Authenticity In A New Universe
InvenGlobal.com – What Sets the New ‘007’ from the Masters of Stealth Apart
