Xbox’s Perfect Dark Reboot Is Still Years Away

Years of setbacks have stalled development on the new Perfect Dark, and while it’s well underway now, we may have to wait a while yet.

[italiangamer]

This game project is going perfectly dark

🏃‍♂️💨

[lelo2play]

The Initiative in 5 years have nothing.
How come Microsoft hasn't disbanded them?

[Jin_Sakai]

That’s because Microsoft likes there hands off approach.

Look at Minecraft... We’re 3 years into current gen and still playing the Xbox One and PS4 version. Still no 4k, no 120fps, no Ray-Tracing, and no graphics updates whatsoever. Coming from a studio with over 600 employees.

[Reaper22_]

The Last Guardian took 10 years to make. In fact a whole generation passed before it was released. Playstation gamers were still OK with it. As long as Perfect Dark comes out good im sure xbox gamers will be OK with it.

[StormSnooper]

MS is busy rebranding Multiplatform games as xbox exclusive. They can't be bothered with making games.

[tay8701]

@reaper you forget playstation closed japan studio's not long after? Japan studios were awesome but you can't have development cycles last that long.

[Crows90]

Microsoft doesnt know how to make good games. The initiative will fail. They've probably restarted the project at least once already.

[Lightning77]

The rumor was they're working on the next Tombraider at Square so PD is somewhat on the back burner now. Apparently TR will release before PD.

[RpgSama]

I hope you are joking...

Square sold Tomb Raider IP like 2 years ago.

[Lightning77]

I meant Crystal Dynamics apologies for that.

[Lightning77]

@Fire Im a heat magnet of downvote. Which is a good thing because it means ppl are paying attention to my words and findings.

My mistake here gives them an actual reason to downvote.

Nobody agrees, but everyone knows I'm right about these things. The more heat and downvotes the better for me actually.

All they're doing is validating the facts and logics. That's all I need so it's working.

Downvote away validate my comments lol

[Sonic1881]

You mean Embracer group? Crystal Dynamics is own by them now

[Godmars290]

Embracer?

Wonder if that was the billion dollar deal that's apparently tanked them.

[Ashunderfire86]

You all know what the guy means you don't have to disagree alot lol

[Flawlessmic]

well it makes sense for CD to focus on there own ip's first and foremost.

there a talented studio so im sure they will make a great PD game when it actually does release

[RupeeHoarder]

They might as well save it for next console launch.

[Terry_B]

How surprising.

[Godmars290]

But is it really...?

[StormSnooper]

He is being sarcastic.

[TheKingKratos]

Good, Xbox fanboys kids and grandkids will have Xbox own games to play in the future then.

[Crows90]

The games they took from everyone else...yes.

Where's that fable? New IP from coalition? New game form 343? Where's the game from the initiative...these are the ones that actually belong to Microsoft and there's nothing to see.

All the others they purchased in order to take away from other companies ..and to do so permanently.

[neomahi]

Not at all a surprise. The Initiative was started by Microsoft to compete with PlayStation Studios directly and I think Microsoft was hoping that by dropping them in the thick of those developers, they might be able to buddy up with Sony devs and get some help from them. Kind of the Trojan Horse tactic with buddy up with them to get intel sort of thing. But that hasn't worked out too well for them as Creative Directors keep coming and going, nobody wants to stick with the project. I think they had a guy from Crystal Dynamics who was over Tomb Raider go there and he only lasted something like two months. Heck, Rod Ferguson joined Xbox to keep things going with Gears of War and was OVER THE COALITION, HE WAS THE BOSS CALLING THE SHOTS, and he left for Blizzard Entertainment, even Microsoft money and being the boss couldn't lure him, so money isn't everything. If you management is poor, people will leave so, this doesn't surprise me.

And honestly, I've been thinking about what Sony would need to do to combat Call of Duty if Microsoft did end up acquiring AB, that's when you pull a page from Microsoft's Playbook, pull a Steve Ballmer: "If you can't beat them, copy them." All Sony needs to do is revive the SOCOM franchise and starting with Call of Duty Modern Warfare, pretty much develop that but stamp SOCOM's name on it instead. Hire on a bunch of former Halo and Call of Duty devs and have them create Call of Duty. There's nothing special with Call of Duty, its just been around forever. Graphically, its never pushed the hardware or been anything pretty. There's no depth to the experience. They just never said die. Its plain vanilla that's just been marketed well. Everyones afraid to compete with it because it means starting a new IP. EA are even giving up with Battlefield. But that's how Sony could take on Xbox with Call of Duty. Copy their games but call it SOCOM instead. SOCOM has a following already, it was big on the PlayStation 2 and rivaled Halo during that time

[slate91]

Next time just ask chatgpt to write a response.

[__SteakDeck__]

@neomahi Sony saw the Initiative as their Naughty Dog/SSM. Also I disagree. I don’t think anything can compete with COD in the fps market as of now. Many devs have tried and many have failed. I agree that COD isn’t special anymore and the formula has gotten state, but it has brand recognition and it’s what casuals know.

[Lightning77]

"according to conversations with 13 sources familiar with the game’s development, little meaningful progress has been made on Perfect Dark since that 2020 trailer.

Why? The answer isn’t glamorous, but rather wrapped up in the realities of game development. The project has seen roadblock after roadblock, with problems such as a fraught co-development partnership, a pandemic, technological challenges, an ongoing exodus of significant talent, and unclear direction from management keeping the game in development limbo."

This pretty much backs up what the rumor said. The development was development was "choppy waters" now we know why. The game is still 2 to 3 years away according to this report. TR will Most like get announced and released sooner than PD if that's the case.

MS needs to, once again get their damn house in order. Hire the right ppl rid of the bad ppl. Builds are getting thrown out ppl. Leaving en mass. MS is mismanaging here. How? Again, by not getting better leadership. It's all on MS this is a home grown studio unlike Arkane Austin so they have zero excuses this time.

Anyway don't doubt my findings ppl MS is still mismanaging and my report is all adding up.

[JokerBoy129]

This is because Microsoft stated they're doing everything they can to abolish crunch culture. The issue is that we're not used to what that actually looks like. I say take your time and make sure it's good and not another Redfall. Companies need to ignore fans and just take their time. The games are usually better for it anyway.

[Hofstaderman]

They doing everything they can to outright abolish first party game releases.

[CrimsonWing69]

everything seems that way with these Xbox exclusives. I mean they showed Hellblade back at the Xbox Series X unveil and that's still next year. Just to put that in perspective all of what was shown at the PS5 unveil has come out, like FF16 is out for chrissakes...

"Years away" should be the Xbox slogan from now.

[StormSnooper]

they sold people on "day one" for gamepads, but if you actually google the list of actual "day one" games released since gamepass inception, you will see that it is an abysmal list of games. The smoke and mirrors are intended to keep people signed up on the gamepass service.

[Hofstaderman]

How can you buy a console and not have games release for it?

[Elda]

Most of XB exclusive games are years away. Smh.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

Xbox’s second strategy, behind buying exclusives last minute out of desperation, is to struggle to release AAA games in 6 years or less…. That’s important to manage if you wanna launch games on their intended generation of consoles.

[BriBri]

... and that's ok

[Vengeance1138]

Where's Obscure Observer on this one? No comment praising this? Pointing out how this is excellent news?

[Ashunderfire86]

2 years away that means 2025

[FalcorMononoke]

Why? How in the hell does Microsoft even consider themselves game devs at this point? 1 or 2 games a year doesn't cut it.

[talocaca]

And this is exactly why Microsoft panicked and now is trying to just buy Activision for a cool $70B.

They know they can't grow their own studios.

[Minute Man 721]

How is this still years away? It's not coming out til probably 26 or 27

[Lexreborn2]

I hate how I’ve invested in now 2 generations of empty promises from MS.

[PhillyDillyDee]

Vaporware extraordinaire