Despite a strong showing at the Xbox Games Showcase in 2024, Perfect Dark was one of several Xbox games cancelled following massive layoffs earlier this year.
The loss of nearly 9,000 jobs at Microsoft resulted in the closure of several key studios, including The Initiative, which was tasked with the reboot of Perfect Dark.
First revealed to the public at the 2020 Game Awards, Perfect Dark was the first project for the studio founded in 2018. However, constant development turmoil and staff turnover plagued the studio.
Crystal Dynamics would attempt to step in to assist development in 2021, but it was too little too late. Yet despite all of its troubles, a lifeline was thrown to Perfect Dark and the Crystal Dynamics studio itself.
Take-Two Attempted To Purchase The Rights To Perfect Dark
According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Take-Two Software Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, was close to making a deal with Embracer Group AB, which owns Crystal Dynamics.
Schreier says that Take-Two would acquire the rights to Perfect Dark before funding and publishing the game. Unfortunately, the deal fell through over one concern: long-term ownership of the Perfect Dark franchise. Mind you, this is a...
