TL;DR
- The Press Badge is needed during the “All the Time in the World” chapter to enter the hotel.
- A guard at the entrance blocks James — he has no badge yet.
- Find a woman in the courtyard and eavesdrop on her phone call to get a clue.
- She has hidden a press badge under a large pot on the lower ramparts.
- Take the stairs to the left, head south, and pick up the badge from the pot.
- Show the badge to the guard to enter the hotel and complete the Press Only challenge.
007 First Light Press Badge is one of the first bits of spycraft the game throws at you. During the “All the Time in the World” chapter, James Bond follows a mysterious bellhop to a hotel — only to be stopped at the entrance by a guard demanding a press badge. If you do not know where to look, it is easy to get stuck here. This guide covers exactly where to find the badge, how to use it, and how it ties into the Press Only challenge.
Which Chapter Is the Press Badge In?
The Press Badge appears in Chapter 3: All the Time in the World. 007 First Light is the new James Bond origin story from IO Interactive, available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store.
This is the first time the game puts you in a larger social environment. You are following a suspicious bellhop through a hotel hosting a chess tournament. James tries to bluff his way in at the front door, but the guard is not buying it. He demands a press badge, which James does not have.
Getting the badge is the cleanest way into the hotel. There are other ways inside — one involves climbing — but the press badge route requires no climbing and is the most straightforward path. It also rewards you with the Press Only challenge on completion.
How to Get the Press Badge in 007 First Light
Here is exactly what to do, step by step.
Step 1: Find the Woman in the Courtyard
After being stopped at the entrance, look around the courtyard outside the hotel. You will spot a woman talking on the phone nearby. Walk close to her and use the eavesdrop mechanic to listen in on her conversation.
She reveals something useful — she has hidden a press badge under one of the large pots on the lower ramparts. This is the clue you need.
Step 2: Take the Stairs Down
Once the conversation ends, do not follow the woman or head back to the guard yet. Instead, look to the left of where she was standing. You will see a staircase. Take the stairs down to the lower ramparts and move toward the southern part of the area.
Step 3: Find the Hidden Press Badge Under the Pot
At the lower ramparts, look for the large pots in the southern area. The press badge is hidden underneath one of them. Walk up to the correct pot and interact with it to pick up the badge. It is a simple find once you know where to look — just head south after coming down the stairs.
Step 4: Return to the Guard and Show the Badge
Head back up to the hotel entrance and approach the security guard. Show him the press badge. He will verify it and let James inside without any trouble. You are now in the hotel and can continue following the bellhop.
How to Complete the Press Only Challenge
The Press Only challenge completes automatically when you use the press badge to enter the hotel and gain access to the chess tournament. There is nothing extra to do. Just follow the steps above — find the badge, show it to the guard, and the challenge ticks off on its own as soon as you walk through the door.
This chapter has 26 challenges in total. The Press Only challenge is one of the easier ones because it follows naturally from the main objective. If you missed it on your first run, you can go back through Chapter Select and replay the mission. For a full breakdown of everything you can complete in this chapter, check our 007 First Light all missions, challenges, and collectibles guide.
Why Eavesdropping Is Important in 007 First Light
This press badge moment is a good example of how eavesdropping works in the game. You do not always get mission markers pointing you directly to items or objectives. Sometimes the game asks you to listen to conversations first before the path forward opens up.
If you had skipped the woman on the phone and gone straight to looking for the badge, you would have had no idea which pot to check. Eavesdropping here gives you the exact information you need. The same mechanic shows up throughout the game — it is worth taking the time to listen in on nearby conversations whenever you see the prompt.
It is also a core part of the game’s social stealth design. Bond in 007 First Light can talk, bluff, and listen his way through situations without firing a shot. Reading your environment and picking up on what people around you are saying is often the key to moving forward cleanly.
Other Ways to Get Into the Hotel
The press badge is not the only way inside. 007 First Light is built around player choice — the same IO Interactive design philosophy from the Hitman series. The press badge route is the recommended one because it is quick, requires no combat, and no climbing. But if you want to explore, there are other entry points involving the hotel’s exterior that require a bit more effort.
The press badge method also unlocks the Press Only challenge, so it is the most rewarding approach from a completionist standpoint.
What to Do After Entering the Hotel
Once you are inside, the chapter opens up significantly. The hotel is full of guests, staff, and secrets. Here is what you can get up to:
- Follow the bellhop — this is your main objective and keeps the story moving.
- Explore the reception area — there are NPCs to eavesdrop on and clues to find.
- Find the manager’s office — the safe inside uses code 1952, which you can crack to complete the Wine Connoisseur and The Manager challenges.
- Look for collectibles — the hotel has Playing Cards, Mementos, and Intel files hidden throughout. The Championship Badge memento is in a side hallway near the referee’s station.
- Use the Q-Lens — scanning the environment reveals hidden interactables, guard positions, and hackable objects like air conditioning units and vacuums.
The hotel is one of the more detailed environments in the early game, with a lot of optional content to find. Take your time exploring before pushing the main objective forward.
Tips for the All the Time in the World Chapter
- Eavesdrop on every conversation you can. Many challenges in this chapter are unlocked through information gathered by listening. Do not rush past NPCs.
- Use the Q-Lens often. It highlights guards, interactable items, and paths you would otherwise miss.
- The Dart Phone is useful here. If you need to distract or slow a guard to access a restricted area, the Sick Dart makes it quiet and non-lethal. For a full breakdown of gadget options, check our 007 First Light best gadget loadout guide.
- Do not rush. This chapter rewards patience. Stealth and social skills get you further than going loud.
- Check every room. Collectibles and challenge triggers are spread throughout the hotel, and some are easy to walk past without noticing.
If you want to know what gadgets are available to you going into this mission, our 007 First Light all gadgets guide has the full list. And if you want to plan your loadout before replaying the chapter, check the best gadget loadout guide first.
Can You Replay This Mission?
Yes. If you missed the Press Only challenge or any collectibles during your first run, you can go back using Chapter Select. Nothing in this chapter is permanently missable. All collectibles save instantly when picked up, and challenges track by type rather than by chapter — so you can jump straight to the checkpoint you need.
For more on how replaying missions works, see our 007 First Light how to replay missions guide.
Related Challenges in All the Time in the World
The Press Only challenge is just one of 26 challenges in this chapter. Some of the other notable ones to look out for include:
- The Manager — requires getting into the manager’s office.
- Wine Connoisseur — tied to cracking the manager’s safe (code: 1952).
- Peace Studies — requires getting through an area without combat or being spotted.
- Silent Studies — similar stealth requirement in the same section.
Several of these can be stacked in a single run if you plan your route properly. The manager’s office challenges, for example, can both be completed in one pass without alerting anyone.
For a full list of what to tackle across the whole game, see our 007 First Light Against the Odds challenges guide and the Classified Papers challenge guide.
More 007 First Light Guides
Looking for more help across the game? Here are some useful resources:
