Tactical Simulation Mode (often shortened to TacSim) is the replay-focused endgame system in 007 First Light. It unlocks after James Bond completes his Malta training arc and lets the player revisit story missions with extra gear, bonus modifiers, and challenge conditions. The system takes structural cues from IO Interactive's prior work in the Hitman series.
Unlock and Framing
In-fiction, the Tactical Simulation is an MI6 training space spearheaded by Dr. Selina Tan, the agency's psychology and game theory specialist who is part of the reimagined MI6 Cast. The simulator is a dedicated space within MI6 with interactive consoles and an in-world display for collectibles and unlock progress.
The first two TacSim escalations (Iceland Advanced Tactical Training and Malta Advanced Close Combat Training) unlock immediately after Bond completes the matching story missions. They double as an extended tutorial for the TacSim systems themselves, easing players into the rest of the mode's structure before more demanding escalations open up.
Mission Structure
TacSim missions are remixes of story-mission spaces with additional rules. Each TacSim run begins with a loadout selection (same as the story mission's loadout system) and a modifier slate. Modifiers can include:
No-gadget runs that lock out the Q Branch loadout entirely
Headshots-only runs that punish body shots
Ranged combat restrictions that force melee-only or thrown-only play
Time pressure runs with a hard mission timer
Specific gear gates that lock out chosen gadgets for the run
The exact modifier roster expands as Bond completes more TacSim runs. Each completion contributes toward the Agent Score for that mission, plus the global XP and Intel rewards.
Scoring and Leaderboards
Each TacSim run is scored via the Agent Score. The score factors in objective completion, time, stealth maintained, detections, lethal versus non-lethal play (governed by the Licence to Kill rule in the Combat System), and any active modifiers. The score posts to both a global leaderboard and a friends-only leaderboard.
Progression
TacSim runs reward two parallel currencies and a single XP track:
Reward | Source | Spent on |
|---|---|---|
XP | Every completed TacSim mission | Raises Clearance Level. Each Clearance Level unlocks new sets of weapon and gadget skins along with cosmetic outfits. |
Intel | Bonus from high-scoring TacSim runs, modifier completions, and challenge milestones | Currency for redeeming specific skins, cosmetics, and outfit pieces from the unlocked sets. |
Agent Score | Each individual TacSim mission run | Leaderboard standing; does not directly purchase items. |
Clearance Level governs what is in the unlock pool. Intel governs what specifically gets redeemed from that pool. The two-currency model means a player who plays a lot of TacSim will see new sets unlocking steadily, but choosing which skins to actually pull from each set is a deliberate act.
Cosmetic Unlocks
TacSim rewards are cosmetic. They do not change weapon damage, gadget functionality, or any stats. The unlock pool covers:
Outfits for Bond in story and TacSim missions
Weapon skins for the Q Pistol and other firearms
Gadget skins for the Q-Lens overlay, Q-Watch face, and the rest of the Q Branch kit (see Q Branch Gadgets)
Other cosmetic flourishes such as briefcase finishes and mission-select art
How It Differs From Story Missions
Feature | Story mission | TacSim mission |
|---|---|---|
Narrative cutscenes | Full | Stripped or skipped to keep the run focused |
Modifiers | None | Extensive; can be combined |
Scoring | Pass / fail | Agent Score with leaderboards |
Reward | Story progress | XP, Intel, cosmetic unlocks |
Replay friction | Cutscenes and dialogue cap pace | Designed for quick repeat runs |
Endgame Role
Because the campaign launches without a New Game Plus mode, TacSim is the de-facto post-credits loop. The studio has framed it as the way to keep playing once the main story is done. Expect future content updates to add new TacSim missions or modifier slates; this is in line with how IO Interactive expanded the comparable Hitman escalation system over time, though the specific post-launch roadmap for 007 First Light has not been publicly detailed.
Tips
Run the Iceland and Malta tutorial escalations first. They teach the modifier system on familiar geometry and unlock the first Clearance Levels quickly.
Pick modifiers that complement Bond's strongest skill rather than trying to fight against it. A heavy-melee player should chain the headshots-only modifier later, not first.
Save high-cost Intel purchases for cosmetic sets you will actually use. Clearance Level keeps unlocking new sets; spending Intel on the first one is rarely the best choice.
Aim for clean stealth runs. Detections cost Agent Score heavily even when the mission is completed.
Leaderboard standing is per-mission. A single strong run can push standings even if the rest of the slate is unfinished.