Perfect Dark Actress Wants Another Publisher to Pick Up the Cancelled Xbox Game

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Earlier this month, Microsoft’s Xbox division made a surprising move by announcing the cancellation of multiple games in progress and shutting down the studios working on them. Among these cancelled titles was “Perfect Dark,” which had been in development by The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics. This game received significant attention during an Xbox Games Showcase in June 2024, and it appeared to be back on track after years of reported issues. However, the cancellation seems final for now, but some enthusiastic fans remain optimistic and are hoping that another publisher will step in and help release the game instead.

One individual passionately advocating for this project is Alix Wilton Regan. Previously slated to play Joanna Dark in the aborted game “Perfect Dark”, Regan voiced her sadness over its cancellation in a tweet, expressing optimism that “just like Joanna, we will all rise again.” This statement sparked enthusiasm among fans who expressed their wish for another publisher to revive the game. Regan has since mentioned that many people have suggested this idea and she is actively building support towards making it a reality. Her original tweet can be found below.

Many individuals have been expressing this concept on my social media, messaging apps, and direct messages, so I feel it’s time to make it clear:

I HOPE WE CAN EXIST IN A WONDERFUL UNIVERSE

#DarkWorld #WishfulRevival – speak up if you want to see the Perfect Dark series continue.

— Alix Wilton Regan (@AlixWiltonRegan) July 4, 2025

It’s clear there are substantial obstacles to overcome. The main challenge is that Microsoft owns the rights to the Perfect Dark series, which implies Xbox may need to either lease these rights to another corporation or transfer them completely. There have been instances of this in the past, such as when Microsoft sold the rights to Hi-Fi Rush to Krafton last year, along with Tango Gameworks’ development team. It’s important to mention that the circumstances surrounding Hi-Fi Rush were unique, as the game was already completed and released, and Microsoft only owned The Initiative studio at that time, not Crystal Dynamics.

Crystal Dynamics, which is currently owned by Embracer Group, has been known for acquiring studios and properties in the past. Given this history, it’s not impossible to imagine Perfect Dark becoming part of their portfolio. Some fans have even suggested that Nintendo might buy the property since Perfect Dark originated as an exclusive game for the N64. However, Nintendo is generally hesitant about acquisitions common in the gaming industry. Yet, they did finance three Bayonetta games during the Switch era. Thus, it’s not unlikely that Perfect Dark could return to Nintendo’s control again.

Unfortunately, it’s just speculation at this point, but there’s a strong possibility that Perfect Dark has been permanently retired and won’t be revived unless Microsoft decides to do so in the future. This isn’t the news anyone wants to hear, but given how Microsoft has managed Rare’s past properties since acquiring the developer over two decades ago, it aligns with their approach. Fans of Banjo-Kazooie share the same disappointment about how those games have been handled!

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2025-07-07 23:40