Ethan Crossfield 
IO Interactive has released Extended Operations, a major free update for 007 First Light that gives campaign veterans more ways to replay missions and adds new TacSim content. Available from October 1 as version 1.3.0 on all platforms, the update combines New Game+, Photo Mode, a new 00 difficulty, fresh weapons and outfits, and more than 700 fixes.
What happened in Extended Operations
Extended Operations is the latest step in IO Interactive’s planned post-launch support for 007 First Light, the studio’s original James Bond story about a young Bond working toward his 00 status. The update’s headline features are available at no extra cost to owners of the game.
New Game+ becomes available after the campaign is completed. It adds more flexibility to repeat runs through the Mission Wardrobe, which lets players apply unlocked outfits to missions when restarting from a checkpoint. Gadget on Demand also allows players to switch between gadgets already unlocked during a mission. Campaign progression still controls access to Q’s equipment, so the system expands replay options without removing every unlock requirement.
The update also introduces the 00 difficulty. It is locked behind campaign completion and makes enemies more perceptive and dangerous while reducing the gadget resources available to Bond. Photo Mode rounds out the main feature additions.
Why it matters for returning players
Extended Operations gives 007 First Light a stronger reason to revisit completed content instead of treating the campaign as a one-time experience. New Game+ can change how players approach familiar missions, while the stricter 00 setting provides a tougher framework for those who want greater pressure during repeat playthroughs.
The TacSim expansion is equally important. Operation Jungle Heist sends Bond back to The Pearl Hotel in Vietnam to recover documents from a villa safe. Its sandbox structure supports different approaches to the same objective, making it suited to experimentation and replayability.
The Valhalla Protocol TacSim Activity offers a different kind of challenge. Players drive the Aston Martin Valhalla through a score-based activity in Slovakia, using its machine guns and missile launchers. New gear includes the Storm 12 Gauge and Squire Marksman Rifle, while the Observant Spy, Leisure Beam, and First Class outfits add further customization.
What to watch next
The update’s technical scope is notable alongside its new content. IO Interactive lists over 700 fixes and improvements involving crashes, progression blockers, clipping, audio, localization, the user interface, achievements, camera behavior, artificial intelligence, and mission-specific issues. Weapon animations have also been refined for reloads, aiming transitions, weapon swaps, and throws.
There are smaller additions too, including Jack the Bulldog near TacSim in MI6 HQ, where players can interact with and pet him. IO Interactive has said that additional improvements and content are in development, keeping Extended Operations within the studio’s broader one-year support plan.
Key takeaways for players
- Complete the campaign to unlock New Game+ and the 00 difficulty.
- Use Mission Wardrobe to apply unlocked outfits when replaying missions.
- Swap between previously unlocked gadgets during missions with Gadget on Demand.
- Try Jungle Heist for a flexible stealth sandbox and Valhalla Protocol for score-based driving.
- Expect a broad technical cleanup covering more than 700 fixes and improvements.
Expert View
Extended Operations is the kind of update 007 First Light needed: it adds meaningful replay systems rather than only another short piece of content. The combination of New Game+, a harder difficulty, and a sandbox-focused TacSim operation should help the game retain players beyond the initial campaign. Its large bug-fix list also suggests IO Interactive is treating long-term polish as part of the game’s ongoing value, not an afterthought.
