IO Interactive has delayed the Nintendo Switch 2 port of 007 First Light to March 2027, just six days after confirming a 2026 launch window. The announcement was made via the game's official X account on September 15, 2026, with the studio stating the extra time is needed to polish performance on Nintendo's hardware.
Delay follows recent 2026 confirmation
The Switch 2 port made a brief appearance during last week's Nintendo Direct, where IO Interactive assured players it was still on track for a 2026 release after missing its original summer window. However, the studio has now reversed course, pushing the launch to March 2027 — 10 months after 007 First Light's May 2026 debut on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
'To ensure we deliver the quality of experience players expect, we have made the decision to delay the release to March 2027, with the exact date to be communicated later,' reads a post on the 007 First Light X account. The statement also noted that 'this additional time will go toward polishing the Nintendo Switch 2 performance of the game.'
Gamescom demo feedback praised
IO Interactive expressed satisfaction with the positive reception to its public demo at Gamescom last month. Footage shared by GameXplain suggests the game already runs decently on Switch 2, hinting that the final port could be another high-quality conversion.
Players on other platforms can still expect future content updates, though IO has only added two new Tac Sim missions in a July update so far. No dates have been announced for additional features, including new game plus or the promised mission featuring Lenny Kravitz's character Bawma.
Rayman Legends Retold also delayed
This delay follows a similar announcement from Ubisoft, which pushed Rayman Legends Retold from October 1 to December 3. The remake had already gone gold, meaning it was ready for manufacturing, but Ubisoft stated it wants to 'take extra time to make sure every detail gets the care it deserves.'
The new release date avoids the crowded October schedule and likely sidesteps competition with GTA 6 in November. Interestingly, the original Rayman Legends on Wii U was also delayed despite being finished, as Ubisoft chose to launch it simultaneously with PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions.
Both delays reflect a broader trend in the industry toward prioritizing polish over release windows, even for games that are technically complete.
