007 First Light Branded 'Woke' For Following Iconic James Bond Movie Tradition

Key Points:

• The new game 007 First Light, featuring James Bond and his Aston Martin, is being hailed as one of the best Bond games ever, marking a strong return since 2012's 007 Legends and competing well in the crowded 2026 gaming market.
• Controversy has arisen over the portrayal of Bond's boss, M, as a woman played by Priyanga Burford, sparking backlash from some fans who criticize this change as "woke," despite M being a female character in the Bond franchise since 1995.
• Critics of the female M argue that Bond being "bossed around by a woman" undermines the character, while defenders highlight that Bond often disobeys M regardless of gender and note that Judi Dench's portrayal of M was widely accepted and iconic.
• The female M character was first introduced in the 1995 film GoldenEye, played by Judi Dench, who continued the role through multiple films, helping normalize and popularize the character as a woman within the Bond universe.
• Most Bond fans appear to support IO Interactive's modern take on the franchise, with many dismissing the backlash as misogynistic and appreciating the game's fresh approach to classic characters.