Perfect Dark, the reboot of Rare’s N64 classic is cancelled. Worse, it appears that The Initiative, the new studio setup to work on the IP and announced back in 2018, is also being shuttered.
The Initiative was first revealed back during E3 2018, during the Xbox Showcase. It was to be helmed by Darrell Gallagher, previously from Crystal Dynamics to work on bringing Perfect Dark to modern audiences.
Crystal Dynamics were already working on the project to help bring it to life, and that team had already suffered layoffs back in March, though at the time we were informed that current projects – like Perfect Dark – were unaffected.
In an email to staff (Thanks WinCentral), Xbox Game Studios Head Matt Booty, said:
“Following Phil’s note, I want to share more about the changes to the Studios business units. 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.
Our overall portfolio strategy is unchanged: build games that excite our players, continue to grow our biggest franchises, and create new stories, worlds, and characters. We have more than 40 projects in active development, continued momentum on titles shipping this fall, and a strong slate headed into 2026.
For those directly affected, we are working closely with HR and studio leadership to provide support, including severance, career transition assistance, and where possible, opportunities to explore roles on other teams. To everyone across our studios: thank you. Your creativity and resilience continue to define who we are. I believe in the strength of our teams and the direction we’re taking on the path ahead.”
The reboot for the game was first revealed during The Game Awards in 2020, with a flashy CG trailer set in Egypt. The latest trailer finally showed off some gameplay, and it looked incredibly promising. It showcased some incredible looking, immersive-sim like gameplay, alongside a whole host of cool sci-fi gadgetry. With the Perfect Dark reboot cancelled and The Initiative shutdown, it appears that’s all we’ll ever see of the game.
