The Initiative, the studio behind Perfect Dark, was shuttered earlier this yr in a mass Microsoft layoffs, with its challenge apparently canceled. Nonetheless, Perfect Dark apparently remained in growth at Crystal Dynamics till simply final week, whereas management from each studios struggled to seek out new funding from a stunning supply: Take-Two.
In a report from Bloomberg, which IGN can corroborate from its personal sources, it’s revealed that Perfect Dark was not “totally deserted” when The Initiative shuttered earlier this yr. Management from each Crystal and The Initiative spent the following two months in search of a brand new writer and funding supply. Whereas a number of events expressed curiosity, the most probably candidate turned out to be Take-Two interactive. Nonetheless, the two teams could not come to an settlement, no less than partly as a result of disagreements over long-term possession of the property.
In consequence, the deal fell by means of, leading to final week’s layoffs at Crystal Dynamics as all hope of the challenge being reinstated vanished.
Crystal Dynamics initially signed onto Perfect Dark as co-developer after the challenge struggled to get off the floor with its first co-dev, Sure Affinity. Crystal was acquired by Embracer Group in 2022, and Perfect Dark was canceled in July after failing to seem at the Xbox Video games Showcase the prior month.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You’ll find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Bought a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.