IO Interactive, the independent developer and publisher behind the HITMAN franchise, and Amazon MGM Studios have announced the release of Extended Operations, a brand-new free DLC update for 007 First Light.
Available today, the content-packed update introduces some of the most requested additions from the 007 First Light community since launch, including New Game+, a new 00 difficulty mode, improved weapon handling animations, Photo Mode and new TacSim content.
The update also introduces the Valhalla Protocol missions, featuring the Aston Martin Valhalla, alongside a new TacSim mission set in Vietnam.
New Game+ Adds a Tougher 00 Difficulty
Extended Operations introduces New Game+ after players complete the 007 First Light campaign on any difficulty. Once unlocked, players can replay the campaign from the beginning or from any completed checkpoint while retaining access to their unlocked outfits and gadgets.
This means players can revisit Bond’s story while choosing the outfits and equipment they have unlocked throughout their previous playthrough.
Completing the campaign also unlocks the new 00 difficulty mode, which is designed as a considerably tougher challenge for players looking to put their combat, stealth and social skills to the test.
Enemies react more quickly to bodies and disturbances, some guard types are replaced with tougher variants and gadget use is restricted when Bond is within a guard’s line of sight. Combat has also been made less forgiving, with enemies capable of killing Bond in two hits, tighter parry and side-step timing, and reduced agency during fights.
Players aren’t forced to choose between the increased difficulty and the customisation options, however. Once unlocked, custom outfits and gadgets can be carried into New Game+ replays on Easy, Normal, Hard or 00 difficulty.
The Aston Martin Valhalla Comes to TacSim
The previously teased Valhalla Protocol content is now playable, taking Bond to the Slovakian Mountains behind the wheel of the Aston Martin Valhalla.
The Valhalla Protocol consists of four missions, allowing players to drive the Aston Martin during both day and night, with different challenges available across the missions.
The Valhalla is also equipped with the weaponry Bond uses during the main campaign. Players will need to use those weapons to eliminate targets, earn time bonuses and achieve the best results possible.
Bond Returns to Vietnam
007 First Light also sends Bond back to The Pearl, a luxury resort in Vietnam, for a new TacSim mission.
The mission sees Bond infiltrating a heavily guarded villa to retrieve classified documents. The entire property is now part of the active gameplay space, including the rooftop, while the villa’s interior has been redesigned to create more opportunities for stealth.
TacSim missions have also received access to additional weapons, with the full arsenal from the main campaign now available when players take on the various scenarios.
007 First Light Finally Gets Photo Mode
One of the most requested additions since launch, Photo Mode is now available in 007 First Light.
Players can freeze the action at any point with a single button press and take control of the shot using a range of creative tools. These include UI visibility and character posing options, camera transformation and lens adjustments, brightness and post-processing controls, as well as background and logo frame options.
That gives players plenty of ways to capture Bond’s reimagined story, whether they’re photographing the Grand Carpathian’s chess tables or the neon-lit streets of Aleph.
More Gameplay Changes Arrive With Extended Operations
The free DLC also improves the fidelity of weapon handling animations, providing additional precision to Bond’s movement and weapon behaviour when handling firearms.
There is also an interesting change to how Bond can meet his demise. Being thrown from a ledge has previously been a way for Bond to dispatch certain enemies, but that move is now available against Bond himself. Players will therefore need to be more careful around ledges during encounters.
Extended Operations Expands 007 First Light
Extended Operations gives 007 First Light a sizeable collection of new content while addressing several features requested by the community. New Game+, the tougher 00 difficulty, Photo Mode, additional TacSim missions, the Aston Martin Valhalla and expanded weapon options all arrive as part of the free DLC.
For players who have already completed Bond’s first adventure, the update provides another reason to return to 007 First Light, particularly for those looking for a more demanding playthrough or wanting to revisit the campaign with their unlocked gear.
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