007 First Light DLC Adds New Game Plus and 00 Difficulty
A free DLC update for 007 First Light, called Extended Operations, adds a New Game Plus mode, a punishing new difficulty and five new TacSim missions.
The free Extended Operations DLC adds New Game Plus mode and the punishing 00 difficulty to 007 First Light. 007 First Light received a free DLC update today called Extended Operations. The DLC adds New Game Plus mode, which is unlocked after beating the campaign on any difficulty. Unlocking New Game Plus also unlocks the game's new 00 difficulty mode, which is described as considerably harder.
This new tier is supposedly significantly harder than the Purist difficulty. Enemies react faster. Some NPCs are swapped for more difficult variants. The 00 difficulty mode features faster enemy reactions, tougher guard variants, restricted gadget use, two-hit kills, tighter parry and side-step timing, and reduced agency in combat. Enemies can now throw the player off ledges.
New TacSim missions expand gameplay variety
The DLC introduces five new TacSim missions, including driving challenges with the Aston Martin Valhalla and stealth-focused villa infiltration in Vietnam. Four of the new operations revolve around the Valhalla supercar. These are driving trials using the car's weapons and gadgets to complete challenges on a timer. One mission features the Aston Martin Valhalla in the Slovakian mountainside with rocket-launcher mounts. The Valhalla cannot be substituted into other missions requiring less exciting vehicles.
The fifth mission is a stealth challenge. It takes place at the luxury Pearl resort in Vietnam to retrieve classified documents from a safe before escaping to a rooftop. The villa interior has been redesigned for more stealth opportunities.
Enhanced systems and player tools
The update improves weapon handling and animations, adds photo mode with deep customization, and includes new outfits for player expression. IO Interactive improved weapon animations and weapon handling fidelity. A new photo mode allows pausing the action mid-battle to take pictures. Players can adjust character poses, lighting, lens, and processing filters. The DLC also includes new outfits for further player expression.
Developer context and game reception
IO Interactive positions the DLC as a thank-you to fans, following the game's strong sales and positive critical reception, including praise for its combat and charm. Game director Dominic Vega said in a trailer: 'This DLC is brought to you as a thank you to all the players who've been with us since the game's release.' Vega was previously a mission director before becoming game director.
The game passed 4 million sales in three months. It was described as one of the best James Bond games in years. IGN's 007 First Light review returned a 9/10. The review quoted: 'Demonstrably obsessed with bringing the Bond fantasy to life in a way no one has ever managed before, 007 First Light is the best Bond game I’ve ever played.' Another critic, Rick Lane of Eurogamer, said the game is less cerebral and replayable than IO's World of Assassination trilogy, but makes up for it with excellent fistfights and oodles of charm. This is the first content-based DLC for 007 First Light. The DLC should tide players over before James Bond's next official adventure.
