The publishers of GTA almost brought new life to one of Xbox’s canceled projects, but the story ended poorly for Perfect Dark. After Microsoft’s layoffs and the closure of The Initiative, the developers turned to Take-Two for support, but the deal collapsed.

Microsoft’s latest wave of cuts eliminated more than 9,000 jobs across its divisions, including the Xbox unit, leading to the cancellation of projects like Perfect Dark and the shutdown of The Initiative studio. However, new reports reveal that developers, with help from Crystal Dynamics, tried to keep the project alive by seeking funding from Take-Two. The idea was to move the game away from Microsoft, allowing the owners of Rockstar and Grand Theft Auto to fund further development. Unfortunately, the negotiations fell apart.

Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, citing people familiar with the matter, explained that The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics advanced far in their talks with Take-Two and came close to securing funding. But the deal was rejected after both sides failed to agree on the long-term use of the IP, leaving the action project on the shelf once again.

Perfect Dark was no longer in its early stages: proof came at the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase, where an action sequence was revealed. Microsoft’s sudden cancellation left many wondering if the footage was fake. A former level designer from The Initiative clarified that while certain elements of the showcase were staged for cinematic flair, the demo itself was entirely playable.

Crystal Dynamics Hit with Layoffs Too

The collapse of the Take-Two deal also led to more bad news at Crystal Dynamics: another round of layoffs took place. The studio didn’t specify how many employees were affected, but reports suggest it included developers working alongside The Initiative on Perfect Dark. To ease concerns, studio representatives confirmed that the upcoming Tomb Raider project was not impacted by these cuts.

Source: 3djuegos