Few aspects of a James Bond adventure are as iconic as its music. From Monty Norman’s unforgettable James Bond Theme to John Barry’s sweeping orchestrations, sound has always defined the Bond experience. As reported by Eurogamer.net, IO Interactive has entrusted the score of 007: First Light to The Flight, the British composer duo of Joe Henson and Alexis Smith. Their task: capture the sound of a younger Bond while honoring six decades of sonic tradition.
The Flight’s Musical Signature: From Assassin’s Creed to Alien: Isolation
Before stepping into the world of Bond, The Flight had already shaped the sound of modern gaming. Their music for titles like Alien: Isolation, Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon: Forbidden West showcased a mastery of atmosphere, moving seamlessly between retro-sci-fi tension and organic, futuristic textures. With Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Shadows they explored cultural identity through regional instrumentation and motifs, while Gotham Knights revealed their darker side, blending brooding orchestration with contemporary electronic design.
Along the way, their work earned multiple industry honors, including wins at the Ivor Novello Awards and Music + Sound Awards, as well as BAFTA nominations for Horizon Zero Dawn and Alien: Isolation.
This hallmark of hybrid scoring – orchestral sweep rooted in tradition, modern electronic edge, and sensitivity to setting and character – is precisely what convinced IO Interactive they were the right choice for 007: First Light. The studio wanted a team capable of merging cinematic weight with fresh textures, perfectly suited to telling the story of a younger Bond still discovering his place in the world of espionage.
A Soundtrack for a New Generation of Bond Fans
Dominic Vega, the Audio and Missions Director on 007: First Light, outlined the ambition behind the soundtrack in the Eurogamer interview:
“We have an orchestral sound to our game, but this is a young Bond. This is a Bond that we’re trying to find the orchestra through the soundtrack. We want to be a Bond for a new gaming generation, and we want to present a fresh sound while never forgetting that this is a classic IP that the fans of Bond should feel really satisfied and welcomed in, but also that the new players can be introduced to this sonic iconography that kind of coincides with the character’s experience.”
This philosophy combines old and new: Bond’s orchestral DNA remains at the core, but it is filtered through modern textures and fresh arrangements. Vega stressed that live instrumentation is essential for Bond’s identity – from French horns in a hall to the swing of a big brass band, sounds that keep the Bond tradition alive while presenting it in new ways.
At the same time, fans can expect the return of classic Bond motifs – but not right away. As we’ve noted before on ExpectingMrBond, the reveal trailer’s use of John Barry’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service theme already hinted at IOI’s strategy: Bond’s most iconic cues are deliberately withheld until he truly grows into the role. It’s a design choice that mirrors the narrative – Bond must evolve, and so must his music.
Dynamic Music in 007: First Light – Adapting to Gameplay
One of the most ambitious aspects of the design is the dynamic score. The soundtrack must adapt seamlessly as players move from a party infiltration to sudden combat. Vega explained that the team re-engineered their Glacier engine to handle this level of adaptive scoring, ensuring that motifs resolve naturally even when gameplay shifts suddenly. The result is a score that feels cinematic yet reactive – one that reinforces the sensation of being Bond.
Licensed Tracks and Global Soundscapes
The soundscape of 007: First Light will also reflect Bond’s globetrotting nature. Players will hear in-universe music appropriate to each location, including licensed tracks, to enhance the sense of place. Dialogue, too, will adapt – both in language use and in the accents of characters – reinforcing the cultural and geographic identity of Bond’s missions.
What About the Theme Song?
No Bond story feels complete without a title song. When asked about this, Dominic Vega, the Audio and Missions Director, remained cautious:
“We have some great music announcements to make along the road. We are obviously going for the complete Bond experience.”
This suggests that a dedicated theme song is indeed on the way, though IOI is keeping that reveal for later.
Why The Flight’s Score Could Define a New Era of Bond Music
The score of 007: First Light is more than just atmosphere: it is narrative, identity, and legacy rolled into one. With The Flight providing their hybrid mastery, and IOI’s technical innovation making it dynamically adaptive, players can expect a soundtrack that is both fresh and faithful.
And when Bond finally earns his number – and his music – the payoff will be one of the defining moments of IO Interactive’s ambitious take on 007.
As someone who is not only a fan of James Bond, but also deeply passionate about film and video game soundtracks, I have high hopes for the music of First Light. To be honest, The Flight had not been on my radar before – I had expected names like Michael Giacchino or Natalie Holt. But in preparing this article, I went through several of their scores and came away deeply impressed. Their versatility shines through, and the qualities I had wished for in Bond are all there: orchestral grandeur with the potential for explosive impact, playful motifs and synthetic textures that mirror the modern age of espionage, and ethnic elements that give each location a distinctive accent.
As a long-time admirer of Hans Zimmer’s score for The Last Samurai, I also found great enjoyment in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, another recent work by The Flight that I can highly recommend alongside Odyssey. It’s a combination of influences and qualities that feels not only fitting, but genuinely exciting for Bond.
I can’t wait to hear more – and the mere prospect of a dedicated title song for 007: First Light already gives me goosebumps.
