One of the games that was halted after Microsoft’s latest round of job cuts was Perfect Dark, a game that was essentially a new start for Rare’s first-person shooter series and was being developed jointly by The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics.
A recent report suggests that Perfect Dark almost came back to life after being canceled. The owners of Xbox and Crystal Dynamics, Embracer Group, reached out to other publishers to see if they were interested in purchasing and completing the game.
The report goes on to say that a deal was close to being made with Take-Two Interactive, but it ultimately fell apart due to unresolved issues about who would own Perfect Dark long-term.
As a consequence, Crystal Dynamics had to let go of staff for a second time this year.
Perfect Dark is a huge missed opportunity
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but reminisce about the exciting journey we embarked on back in 2020 when the revival of Perfect Dark was first unveiled with a captivating CGI teaser trailer. For years that followed, details were scarce, fueling our anticipation and leaving us wondering about the game’s development.
However, it seemed like we might be on the brink of a breakthrough in 2024 when a gameplay trailer for Perfect Dark was presented during the Xbox Games Showcase. The footage depicted agent Joanna Dark in a high-tech, futuristic Cairo, engaging in stealthy combat with advanced weaponry and performing spy-like melee takedowns. The level design, evocative of immersive sims, had us all intrigued.
Regrettably, no release date or timeframe was revealed, but the vision for this game left us eagerly awaiting more. Tragically, in July of the same year, we learned that (among other cancellations and team restructurings) The Initiative was being shut down, effectively putting an end to Perfect Dark’s development. It was a bitter pill to swallow, leaving me, like many others, with a lingering sense of disappointment.
What could have been
I must confess, I’m eagerly wondering about the specifics of this deal that didn’t pan out. It wouldn’t be shocking if it failed, given the potential benefits to many people in keeping their jobs and continuing work on this game.
It’s important to mention that Microsoft has let certain studios separate themselves in the past. For instance, Toys for Bob split from Activision and soon signed a publishing contract with Xbox Game Studios for a new project.
Tango Gameworks, initially shut down, was later revitalized and sold to Krafton together with the Hi-Fi Rush IP. Consequently, the team is still active and is currently creating an unnamed action game that may be Hi-Fi Rush 2.
Coincidentally, Take-Two Interactive recently conducted layoffs at Cloud Chamber, the studio responsible for BioShock. Over 80 staff members were let go. However, Rod Fergusson, the former head of Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo, is now leading the studio as they continue work on the next BioShock game. The release date has been pushed back from its initial schedule of late 2026 or early 2027, but it’s still in production.
Take-Two Interactive also permits Ken Levine and Ghost Story Games to proceed with Judas, a game that was previously promised for release before March 2025. No release date has been set yet, although recent updates have offered more details about the game mechanics and shared new artwork.
Ultimately, I can’t help but feel saddened by this turn of events. Perfect Dark, the game I was most excited for from Xbox, is now out of the picture.
RIP (once again), Perfect Dark.
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2025-09-03 01:39