Could one of James Bond’s most memorable gadgets from GoldenEye (1995) be making a comeback in 007: First Light? With the announcement of the Deluxe Edition, IO Interactive teased fans not only with exclusive cosmetics, but also with a subtle nod to one of Q Branch’s most ingenious inventions.
A Golden Tease in the Deluxe Edition
The Deluxe Edition was announced as a free upgrade for all pre-orders, adding a set of stylish extras for players. Buyers of the digital versions will also receive 24 hours of early access before the official release date – a separate incentive tied specifically to digital editions.
In terms of content, the Deluxe Edition includes four exclusive outfits for Bond, a special skin for his Q Pistol, and the Gleaming Pack.
This Pack is particularly exciting because it introduces golden variants for Bond’s Echo Trace headset, his lighter (notably the first time this gadget is highlighted with its own skin), the smartphone dart gun, and – perhaps most eye-catching of all – a pen.
That last item immediately sparked speculation. For Bond fans, it strongly recalls GoldenEye’s iconic explosive pen, one of the franchise’s most memorable gadgets.
“The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword” – GoldenEye’s Most Suspenseful Payoff
Q introduces the gadget in his usual playful manner, explaining that three clicks arm the grenade and another three disarm it. Bond, with a mischievous glance, clicks the pen himself and asks:
“How long did you say the fuse was?”
It’s a perfect mix of humor and danger – classic Bond. And the film doubled down on that tension with one of the most nail-biting finales of the 1990s: Alan Cumming’s Boris absentmindedly clicking the pen again and again, while audiences counted along in mounting suspense.
Smuggled Into Bond: My First GoldenEye Cinema Experience
GoldenEye (1995) holds a special place in my Bond story. It was the very first Bond film I ever saw in a cinema – though, truth be told, I wasn’t quite old enough. When the movie premiered in German cinemas in February 1996, I was still just 11 years old, a few months shy of the FSK 12 rating.
Luckily, my parents smuggled me in – and I’ll never forget sitting on the edge of my seat, silently counting the clicks with Boris. And just when the tension seemed unbearable, the film gave him a cold, ironic exit – frozen solid by liquid nitrogen. For me, that was Bond at its absolute best: stylish, suspenseful, and just a little bit cheeky.
From Parker Jotter to IOI’s Reimagination
The gadget in GoldenEye (1995) was disguised as a Parker Jotter – a real-world pen that even saw a special 007-branded collector’s edition released after the film. Checking Parker’s current catalogue, no model matches the golden design from the Gleaming Skin Pack, which strongly suggests IOI has created its own reinterpretation rather than re-licensing the original product.
It would also mark the second gadget from the 1995 classic to return in IOI’s game. The first is the laser function of Bond’s Omega watch – not the exact same model seen in GoldenEye (1995), but a new timepiece that Omega is expected to reveal soon.
How the Explosive Pen Could Work in 007: First Light
The big question is how such a gadget could actually be used in gameplay. We already saw Bond deploying a proximity mine in the Gameplay Reveal – a device clearly meant for brute-force situations. The pen, by contrast, would almost certainly serve a more subtle, concealed role, much like hidden items in Hitman. That would make it invaluable in missions where Bond needs to pass through security checks or infiltrate areas where obvious explosives would never be allowed.
It could also be a limited item – perhaps a single gadget that Bond carries into a mission, forcing players to think carefully about when to use it. Another intriguing possibility is that Bond could plant the pen on an unsuspecting enemy, much like Q jokingly demonstrated in GoldenEye (1995). That mechanic would open up creative and cinematic ways to set traps without alerting guards.
The explosive pen is a fun nod to Bond’s cinematic past – but beyond that, I’m most excited about the brand-new gadgets IOI has created specifically for 007: First Light.
