Perfect Dark: Release Date, Leaks, Xbox News, and Everything We Know So Far


Image showing Perfect Dark player shooting gun at enemy
Credit: Crystal Dynamics

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Latest Update, July 25 2022:

There are still no signs of the Perfect Dark reboot launching despite many hoping it will arrive at some point in 2022.

With the Certain Affinity studio reportedly assisting with development, is a 2023 launch on the cards.

A new Perfect Dark game is currently in development, with Microsoft's newest studio, The Initiative, hard at work on what is being described as an 'AAAA' game. They'll be partnering with fellow studio, Crystal Dynamics, (who many will know from the Tomb Raider reboots and Marvel's Avengers) to work on the project.

Long-time fans of Rare and the stealthy shooter will also be glad to know that this latest outing will have a modern twist and a new-look Joanna Dark leading the game. Whilst it's likely still some way off releasing, here's everything we know so far about the game.

Latest News

15 March 2022 -

While we've not seen anything about Perfect Dark since that initial reveal, reports have emerged of staffing troubles at The Initiative. Following the loss of the game's director, further reports claimed the developer faces a much wider problem.

6 July 2021 -

Speaking on IGN's Podcast Unlocked, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has been discussing the return of Joanna Dark and what she brings to the Xbox stable of characters.

"I think it's awesome that for us we can focus on a female protagonist in our lineup, we don't have a lot of that in our our first-party [lineup]. I think Joanna offers a lot of modern opportunities that I love to see the team focusing on, having a strong protagonist."
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What Is Perfect Dark?

Perfect Dark, originally from Rare, was an N64 title that got a follow-up on Xbox 360 as a launch title for Microsoft's second console. The game stars spy Joanna Dark and offers a mix of traditional first-person shooter gameplay with stealth, too.

The team was keen to stress that despite the first-person perspective, the new game is not strictly a shooter, and it looks as though it'll be set in an "eco sci-fi" world where corporations have taken over after some kind of natural disaster. The franchise's last entry, Perfect Dark Zero, was met with a tepid reception.

On the official website for The Initiative, the game is described as "a secret agent thriller".

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Release Date

Unfortunately, the team noted that the game is still in early development, and that's backed up by the fact that it's continuing to hire staff.

VentureBeat initially suggested that the game was slated for a 2023 launch, alongside the likes of Everwild, Fable, Avowed, and more.

More recently, however, GamesIndustry.biz's Christopher Dring has stated that the game could be a way off. Speaking on VGC's 'Off The Record' podcast, Dring explained that “Those games that they [Microsoft] announced - Everwild, Perfect Dark, Fable - are so far away. As in, there might even be a new Xbox (a mid-tier upgrade) by the time those games come out."

Trailer

Check out the developer interview and cinematic teaser below:

Perfect Dark Platforms

Not only is the game coming to Xbox Series X and S, but it'll also launch on PC. The good news is that it'll also be available as part of Xbox Game Pass, meaning you'll be able to jump in as part of your subscription.

Who Are The Initiative?

Microsoft's most high-profile studio, The Initiative was formed to offer "AAAA" calibre games and is currently situated in Santa Monica. The team is made up of staff from Crystal Dynamics (Tomb Raider), Sony Santa Monica (God of War), Rockstar Games (Red Dead Redemption 2), and Bungie (Destiny 2).

Updated in April 2022 by James Wright. Contributions by Lloyd Coombes and Jonno Nicholson.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Perfect Dark, Xbox, and Gaming News pages.