Perfect Dark Reboot Was Nearly Saved After Xbox Cancellation

The Perfect Dark reboot was almost saved from Xbox’s cancellation, but things didn’t work out. The gaming industry is pretty cut throat these days. Studios are being shuttered, mass layoffs are happening, and big games are being cancelled abruptly. It’s disappointing for fans and creatives alike, but especially so for those who have spent many years working on the game or waiting for it. Earlier this summer, Xbox cancelled a bunch of video games, shut down studios, and reduced the staff of major teams. It was a tough pill to swallow, especially since teams like The Initiative never even made a game. They were set to make their debut with Perfect Dark, but it was cancelled.

The Perfect Dark reboot looked really exciting and like one of Xbox’s most promising first-party games on the horizon. Unfortunately, the plug was pulled on the immersive shooter. Not much has been said as to why Xbox decided this game wasn’t worth investing in any further, especially after half a decade of development, but it’s possible things weren’t going smoothly and Xbox realized it would have to sink more years into the game with little payoff. Perfect Dark was reportedly in a “rough state” last summer, but it’s unclear if things got cleaned up since then. However, despite this, Perfect Dark wasn’t completely dead yet.

Perfect Dark Reboot Was Nearly Saved by Take-Two

As reported by Bloomberg, Embracer Group and Take-Two Interactive (the gaming giant that owns Rockstar Games and 2K) came close to saving Perfect Dark. Embracer owns Crystal Dynamics, which has been co-developing Perfect Dark for some time now, and Take-Two was open to purchasing the property from Microsoft to then publish and fund the game’s remaining development. However, the deal broke down as Embracer and Take-Two couldn’t come to an agreement on who would have control over the Perfect Dark franchise after the release of the reboot. As a result, Embracer laid off staff at Crystal Dynamics, likely signaling that the game is truly dead.

Leadership at The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics spent the summer trying to find funding for Perfect Dark, but it’s unclear if anyone else was interested or able to provide the deal necessary to see the game through to the finish line. It’s pretty tragic news and one that seems like it could’ve been avoided with an agreement, but with the amount of money that would likely need to be invested, it’s understandable that neither party is going to surrender total control over the Perfect Dark franchise. Maybe there will be another publisher that can swoop in save this game, but I’d advise not holding your breath.

Perfect Dark’s Cancellation May Just Save the Franchise