Forget Perfect Dark, The Original Game’s Abandoned Spinoff Needs to Happen

Perfect Dark was first released in 2000 on the Nintendo 64, where it was seen as the spiritual successor to GoldenEye 007. Rare took what it learned from its James Bond game and leaped forward with Joanna Dark’s adventure. Players were treated to a dark and futuristic spy thriller with addictive first-person shooter gameplay and an interesting narrative. Perfect Dark showcased technical improvements and seemed destined to be a long-running franchise that could rival Halo today. Heading in this direction, Rare released a prequel, Perfect Dark Zero, five years later. But after this, the series seemingly ended, until Microsoft announced a reboot was in development.

However, the reboot was surrounded in controversy and Microsoft eventually cancelled Perfect Dark in July 2025 as part of the layoffs at the company. While this saddened fans, it points out a missed opportunity. Instead of looking toward Joanna Dark to revive the series, developers should have looked to the canceled spin-off title, Perfect Velvet.

What Happened to Perfect Dark?

Perfect Dark was built on everything Rare had accomplished with GoldenEye 007 and was widely praised for its graphics, story, and multiplayer aspects. It was ahead of its time with these features and its complex narrative. It achieved great success and secured a good number of sales. This led many to believe the series had a long-lasting future.

Its prequel launched on Xbox 360 in 2005, but Perfect Dark Zero failed to live up to the first entry. While it was visually impressive, it didn’t capture the same magic as Perfect Dark. Flashy presentation was impressive, but it lacked tight design and charm. Many viewed this as a minor setback and expected Rare to bounce back after learning from its mistakes.

But many years would pass, showing that these hopes may have been misplaced. That was until 2020, when a reboot of Perfect Dark was announced. The Initiative, a new studio formed at Microsoft, would take the helm and bring the classic title to a modern audience. But this hope was short-lived. Staff turnover, delays, and creative disagreements showed development was rocky, and so Crystal Dynamics was courted to help.

Last year, fans saw an impressive trailer for the Perfect Dark reboot, including gameplay. Hope was at an all-time high, but again, it would be short-lived. More cracks began to appear at Microsoft, and ultimately, as a part of the layoffs, the Perfect Dark reboot was canceled. Now, fans can’t help but wonder if a different path could have been taken to keep the series alive.

Instead of Perfect Dark, Velvet Dark Needs to Happen

Velvet Dark was intended to be a spinoff of Perfect Dark back in the early 2000s. It would focus on another character, Velvet, who was available in the co-op campaign and was reportedly Joanna’s sister. The goal was to show the in-game universe through a new set of eyes, continuing the story while maintaining the same themes of sci-fi espionage. It was never officially announced, but leaks and rumors circled around its possibility.

Rare was reportedly developing the game between Perfect Dark and Perfect Dark Zero, but ultimately shelved the project. These reports indicate they were experimenting with new gameplay mechanics, such as a third-person perspective and a more narrative-driven campaign. Some reports even believed it was going to be a handheld game, though some suggest it targeted the Nintendo GameCube.

Regardless of the specifics, Velvet Dark could have been an interesting game considering the world-changing events of Perfect Dark. It could have lessen the scopes but still keep the high stakes. More varied missions could have showcased more of the game’s world, whether they were stealth-based or gadget-focused.

Spinoff titles have proven to be successful, and Velvet Dark could have been the Halo 3: ODST of the series. Today, it could serve as a revival and reintroduction for longtime and new fans. Microsoft could create a smaller-scale entry point to gauge interest before moving ahead with the reboot. Not only that, but it would confirm and expand upon fan theories regarding Joanna and Velvet.

Can Perfect Dark (or Velvet Dark) Continue in the Future?

Following the canceled reboot, Perfect Dark’s future remains uncertain. Even if Microsoft is willing to try rebooting it again, there is still the question of who would develop it. Rare is no longer the studio it once was, now seen as only working on Sea of Thieves. Those who defined the series are long gone, and it’s clear that Microsoft has shifted its priorities to other franchises and made cuts across the board.

There is always hope, as it was recently revealed that the Perfect Dark reboot was nearly saved by Take-Two. However, the deal for the publisher to purchase the license from Microsoft fell through, confirming the death of the series. This doesn’t mean an opportunity for another studio to purchase the IP won’t come along, but it certainly doesn’t look good. Hi-Fi Rush managed to live on in this way, but will Perfect Dark find a savior?

The best chance for Perfect Dark to live on is for Microsoft to work on a smaller project, such as Velvet Dark, and allow a mid-sized studio with talent to breathe new life into the series. Looking at Nintendo’s handling of titles like Metroid Dread and Luigi’s Mansion could save this beloved series if Microsoft doesn’t wish to sell. Unfortunately, whether through Joanna or Velvet, the future of Perfect Dark is in Microsoft’s hands and will be determined by its willingness to take risks.

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