Gamescom 2025 is just around the corner, and before diving into the excitement of new reveals, I wanted to share one of the puzzles that has been on my mind for months. Originally, I had planned this piece as a short speculative article — much like my previous explorations of 007: First Light’s possible locations in Vietnam and Slovakia. But as I dug deeper, the topic turned out to be more layered and complex than expected.
Despite countless fan theories and frame-by-frame trailer analysis, I still haven’t found a definitive answer. Yet with Gamescom as the next milestone, it feels like the right moment to open the discussion with fellow Bond fans.
It all revolves around three intertwined elements: the potential antagonists, the gala hosted by Webb Industries, and the enigmatic woman at Bond’s side – Isola. Layered across these are striking Roman and classical motifs, hinting at something deeper in 007: First Light.
The Webb Industries 125th Anniversary Gala
The trailer shows a glittering gala inside a museum-like building. Statues line the halls, while the heart of the venue appears to be a palm-filled neoclassical winter garden in the style of the 18th or 19th century. Guests mingle at bars, sipping cocktails, while James Bond himself stands among the high society crowd, looking slightly underdressed for the occasion.
When a man in a suit asks what he does, Bond replies, “Lately, headhunting,” while glancing toward Isola. She acknowledges him with the slightest nod. Whether they’re already working together or meeting for the first time remains unclear, but the exchange suggests a partnership forming in this very scene.
Bond is later shown lifting a smartphone from a man in a red jacket at the same event. On close inspection, the phone’s display reveals the text: “Webb Industries 125th Anniversary Gala.” This confirms the host of the evening – a brand-new company within the Bond universe, and one that may be hiding darker secrets.
A Mediterranean Connection?
I held back this article for weeks because I kept circling the same question: where is this gala taking place? Originally, I intended it to be a straightforward speculation piece in the same vein as my earlier location analyses of Vietnam and Slovakia. Yet this one turned out to be far more complex than expected. The Mediterranean idea came from the statues and the neoclassical winter garden in the trailer, but that line of thought might have been misleading.
Classical Traces at the Training Grounds
Many visual cues pushed me toward a Mediterranean location. On the training grounds, the shooting targets are marked with the word Sagitta – Latin for “arrow.” The entire facility seems to be on an island, with the sea clearly visible in the background. Shooting ranges and obstacle courses lie among classical ruins, making the environment feel steeped in ancient heritage.
The Carpathian Invitations and Theseus
Another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it detail comes during the Carpathian Invitations sequence: as the chess player sips his cocktail, the logo appears in the background. The word is cut off, but enough letters remain to suggest Theseus. Paired with the ancient helmet symbol, tying into Greek and Roman imagery, even though this sequence is set in Slovakia. In mythology, Theseus was the Athenian hero who slew the Minotaur and later became king of Athens, known for uniting Attica under his rule and establishing fortresses and civic institutions. A figure of cunning, strength, and enduring myth, his name evokes both the glory of conquest and the fragility of legacy.
But Then, the English Twist
And yet, a twist disrupted the theory: above one of the gala’s bars hangs a sign reading “Hall of Mechanics Bar” – in plain English. Suddenly, London or another English-speaking capital became equally plausible. In fact, a later shot of Bond in the same casual outfit during a rooftop chase at night could fit perfectly with a city like London.
Inspiration from Copenhagen
The debate took another turn when a fan on Reddit pointed out how much the gala resembles Copenhagen’s Glyptoteket museum. The building features classical exhibitions, palm trees beneath a glass-domed winter garden, and even corridors with arched ceilings and orange walls – all strikingly similar to scenes in the trailer. Of course, it would be ironic if IOI set Bond’s mission so close to home, but everything else suggests the gala is not literally Copenhagen. More likely, IOI drew visual inspiration from it while placing the actual story elsewhere.
Webb Industries and Bond’s Mission
Other trailer shots show Bond sneaking through the same building, apparently searching for something. These sequences highlight the game’s new combat system: cinematic disarms, brutal punches, opponents smashed into tiles, hurled over balconies, or neutralized with gadgets like the dart-gun smartphone, the Omega watch’s laser, or even a tossed empty pistol.
Bond also uses an environmental scanner, though it’s unclear whether it’s part of his phone, watch, or earpiece. His search eventually leads him to what looks like a laboratory hidden within the same complex. Could the entire building belong to Webb Industries? If so, why host a glamorous gala above a secret lab?
The setup recalls classic villain corporations – Stromberg Shipping, Zorin Industries, Drax Industries – polished public faces hiding darker agendas.
The Golden Mask
Though Bond is tasked with tracking down a rogue 009, it seems clear that the figure wearing the golden mask is central to the villainy at play. The mask itself is a sleek, high-tech design that completely encloses the head, making the figure appear almost like a living statue. What makes this even more striking is the setting: in the background, the same kind of ancient statues seen during the gala — including what appears to be a version of Laocoön — are visible. This strongly suggests that the masked villain is operating inside the very same building, his presence hidden behind the opulence of the event.
Function and the Iceland Connection
The immediate question is: why the mask? Beyond mere intimidation, the design suggests these helmets are more than just armor. They likely serve as advanced filters, protecting against hostile air — or even enabling the wearer to deploy gas attacks. Admittedly, the speculation takes us quite far here, but think about environments where someone might need protection from hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, methane, or carbon dioxide — places where the very air is dangerous.
This naturally leads to a thought: have we seen a place like this hinted at before? Yes, Iceland. The trailer shows M mentioning that Bond barely survived a disastrous mission there. Although that mission likely had nothing directly to do with a villain’s hideout, it plants a seed. Iceland’s geothermal areas, like Námafjall, where solfataras release toxic fumes, would make a perfect villain’s lair later in the game—a fortress that only those with special masks could survive.
So, while Bond’s initial Iceland mission seems unrelated, it sets up a thrilling narrative possibility: that he might have to return there for a final showdown. Imagine Bond facing his masked adversary in that lethal volcanic landscape at the climax of the story.
Ancient Symbolism and the Villain’s Vision
But the golden mask tells us even more. The laurel wreath was a powerful emblem in both Greek and Roman culture – a mark of victory, heroism, and divine authority. Combined with the brilliance of gold, it evokes immortality, hubris, and the god-like ambition to reshape humanity. These are perfect ingredients for a megalomaniac Bond villain.
Here, the title of the game may take on a double meaning. First Light could refer not only to Bond’s first steps toward becoming 007, but also to the villain’s grand design – a project to bring his vision of “light,” “order,” and “truth” to mankind. In this sense, it almost reads like the codename of a master plan – much like Operation Grand Slam in Goldfinger. What looks like a beginning for Bond could, at the same time, be the culmination of the villain’s own mission.
Could First Light also connect to the glowing, rotating golden device glimpsed briefly in the trailer? Is it a weapon, or something Bond must protect at all costs?
Intriguingly, these masked figures look different from the Webb Industries security guards Bond fights earlier. If they belonged here, why would they arrive fully geared? This suggests they may be intruders themselves – perhaps launching an attack on Webb Industries, maybe even using poison gas. Bond could well have been investigating when he was captured and beaten – treatment more likely from the company’s own people than from an outside strike team. And like Drax in Moonraker, who staged a shuttle theft to cover his own scheme, Webb Industries could just as easily be hiding behind a staged attack or false pretense of theft.
We have always referred to the masked figure as a man — but the truth is, we don’t know. The trailers give us no clear answer, and when pressed on the subject, IO Interactive deliberately left both options open. The villain behind the golden laurel wreath could just as easily be a woman, which only deepens the mystery.
Isola’s Role
Then there is Isola, the woman repeatedly seen at Bond’s side. My impression is that the gala is likely their first meeting, given how much more familiar and trusting their later interactions appear.
One fascinating detail is her clothing. On gala night, only two people wear red: the Webb Industries employee Bond steals the phone from, and Isola herself. Could this be a dress code signaling rank within the company?
The idea gains weight when you notice the WI initials on the gala’s walls – and later, in Vietnam, on the laptop Isola uses by the pool. Rotated, the logo aligns closely with the Webb Industries brand.
So why is she with Bond? Two possibilities: either something was stolen from Webb Industries that only she can handle, or someone close to her was abducted – perhaps a family member, a classic Bond setup. M even refers to her as an “asset,” which suggests she’s not an operative but a civilian drawn into events. Yet her closeness to Webb Industries raises doubts: is she truly Bond’s ally, or playing her own game?
Whether it’s the villainous golden mask, the corporate power behind Webb Industries, or the enigmatic presence of Isola— the shadows of 007: First Light are getting darker and more intriguing. With Gamescom set to unveil its secrets this week, the truth behind Bond’s enemies may not stay hidden for long.
We’ll be watching
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