Perfect Dark Cancellation - Re-review from 2025

[BLUEVOODU]

I had a lot of other things I was focused on in 2025.  I have either forgot or totally missed the news that Perfect Dark was cancelled and the studio that was creating it was shut down.

Article: https://gamerant.com/perfect-dark-reboot-canceled-the-initiative-closed-down-xbox-microsoft/

I have not 100% verified, but it sounded like Take-Two Interactive tried to save a version of the game but that also broke down.

Are you disappointed this game was not rebooted?  To me, it's crazy that certain titles like this that were once MASSIVE titles have been shuttered.  I know the 2005 Perfect Dark Zero was met with mediocre reviews.  I tried to like it back on the Xbox 360, but just couldn't.  There was also another 2008 project, Perfect Dark Core, but that was cancelled.

At this point, it looks like we will no longer get any Perfect Darks.  What are your thoughts on the cancellations?  Again, I know it was last year, but catching up to a few things.

Thoughts, comments, post it up!

[targetrasp]

I'm not surprised, N64 perfect dark was amazing, it took everything that was great about 007 and turned it up to 11. The Xbox 360 flavor was mid-tier at best. Perfect Dark really burned out after its first iteration.

[retro junkie]

I have it on the N64. I tried to get into the game back during the N64 glory years but motion sickness won. I just can't play any first person shooters. The closest that I came to being able was that first Metroid game on the Gamecube.

[BLUEVOODU]

When my buddy from Germany came to town, we ended up playing Perfect Dark a lot.  Those were good times.  I have a lot of good memories playing Perfect Dark.  I remember when Microsoft bought Rare... I was like "NOOOOOoooooo" as Darth Vader Said in Revenge of the Sith LOL 

Once the buyout happened and several other titles fell out on the 360, I figured Rare's days were numbered.  There was always SO much hype behind their games and their games were always behind it seemed or took too long to release.  I had a feeling that would happen... and it seems that is the case these days.

However, does Rare even matter these days?  This is a HARD question to ask if you grew up during those days.  This might need a topic of its own.

[targetrasp]

Early Rare was ok, I remember a bunch of jet pack games. They started hitting their stride during the nes era with games like RC Pro Am and Battle toads and became amazing by N64. It's hard to think of a bad (subject to interpretation, let's change that to poor performing) rare game until Microsoft crapped it up for the 360. Kameo and Perfect Dark were early (maybe even launch) titles that for the 360 that were completely missable. Viva Pinata was the one great 360 game by Rare I recall. I even bought the Rare Replay and pretty much used it to relive some Battle Toads frustrations and play Viva Pinata again. Now the only thing keeping the name alive is Sea of Thieves. Fantastic game but it lost me quick because of the shared world. I absolutely could not stand trying to learn a game with a bunch of other just wrecking my guts. I could see the fun having a good crew going around giving new groups and solo players grief, so I get it.

They've since made it where you can create a private realm, but I moved on long before that option was available. I heard tale of another ambitions project that eventually got shuttered and with that failure so went most of Rare's left-over talent.

Holy crap, completely forgot to mention Donkey Kong Country and Banjo-Kazooie - so they did well for themselves during the snes era too!