007 First Light will not offer preload on Steam and Xbox before launch

007 First Light will not support preload on Steam or Xbox, which means PC and Xbox players will have to wait until the official release time before they can start downloading the game. PlayStation 5 is the only platform getting preload support, because IO Interactive says it is required on that platform.

The detail was confirmed by IO Interactive representative Arti_IOI on the game’s official subreddit. The message said Steam and Xbox downloads will begin only when the game reaches its official launch time. That decision has frustrated some players, especially those who preordered the game for early access.

The issue matters because 007 First Light is reportedly around 80 GB in size. For players with slower internet, that download could take several hours. This may reduce the value of the 24 hour early launch window offered to people who bought the game early, since part of that time could be spent waiting for the download to finish.

Steam and Xbox players are upset because early access may feel less useful without a preload option

IO Interactive has not given a public reason for skipping preload on Steam and Xbox. The report notes that piracy concerns could be one possible reason, especially after some major games leaked before release in recent months. Still, that has not been confirmed by the studio.

Several players on Reddit said the decision makes PC and Xbox feel like weaker platforms for launch. One player said the choice was frustrating because it made customers feel undervalued. Another argued that the early access promise feels weaker when players must first download such a large game after the launch time arrives.

Here is how the preload situation currently stands:

The lack of preload does not affect the game’s expected performance targets. 007 First Light is still aiming for 60 FPS on most platforms. The main exception is Xbox Series S, where the game will not target the same level because of RAM and GPU limits, according to IO Interactive.

For now, the biggest launch concern is not performance, but access. Players on Steam and Xbox who planned to jump in immediately may need to prepare for a delayed start, depending on their internet speed. PlayStation 5 owners will have the smoother path at launch because preload is available there.