Can you believe that the N64 classic Perfect Dark is 25 years old? It actually turned that on May 22, 2025, but now is as good a time as any to remember the impact it had for not only Nintendo, but its developer Rare. The game shifted Nintendo’s image from a “family-friendly” console to something that catered to all age groups. It also showed that Rare was not short on unique ideas, following up the legendary GoldenEye 007 with a new IP that topped its predecessor. Sadly, those good times will have to be put on pause as in addition to Microsoft’s recent layoffs to the tune of 9,100 employees, the company has also closed its internal studio The Initiative and canceled its Perfect Dark reboot.
Announced all the way back in 2020 at The Game Awards, Perfect Dark was set to be a reboot of the series for the newly released Xbox Series X|S that would usher in Joanna Dark for a new generation. Last year’s Xbox Games Showcase showed the game’s first footage, but otherwise, Perfect Dark remained mysterious. Although its development faced setbacks and delays, Microsoft consistently assured the public of progress. Sadly, I guess that progress meant straight to the garbage as Windows Central has confirmed the game and its studio is no more.
According to Windows Central, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty shared a memo internally that confirmed the cancellation of Perfect Dark along with Rare’s Everwild and other “unannounced projects.” Speculation is pointing to ZeniMax Online’s MMORPG project, which was dubbed Blackbird. It was set to be the successor to The Elder Scrolls Online, though its future is now in jeopardy. As for studio closures, The Initiative is the only one on the chopping block today. Various other Xbox teams are getting hit with layoffs, however.
You can read the full memo on Windows Central, but Booty writes, “We have made the decision to stop development of Perfect Dark and Everwild as well as wind down several unannounced projects across our portfolio. As part of this, we are closing one of our studios, The Initiative. These decisions, along with other changes across our teams, reflect a broader effort to adjust priorities and focus resources to set up our teams for greater success within a changing industry landscape. We did not make these choices lightly, as each project and team represent years of effort, imagination, and commitment.”
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
