Xbox’s Perfect Dark reboot is in ‘a very rough state’, it’s claimed

Xbox’s upcoming Perfect Dark reboot is reportedly facing challenges, and is in “a very rough state.”

Speaking on the Giant Bombcast, journalist Jeff Grubb spoke about the game in the wake of the closure of several Xbox studios on Tuesday. 

“The fallout from this is, I’ve been hearing more and more, that Perfect Dark is in a rough state, sounds like it’s in a very rough state.

“It doesn’t sound like it’s really come together in any way.”

VG247 journalist Alex Donaldson echoed this, describing it as “a team really trying hard to push a boulder up a steep hill.”

Video game historian Liam Robertson said, “From what little I have heard about the development of the new Perfect Dark, it sounds like a future video in the making. Just a big, protracted mess.”

In June 2023, IGN reported that the reboot was “in the earliest stages” of development and was likely still 2-3 years away from release.

While the project was announced in 2020, nothing has been shown of it since following years of reported setbacks that have stalled development.

These allegedly include a fraught co-development partnership with Certain Affinity, which worked on the game between 2019 and 2021, and high attrition at The Initiative.

VGC reported in March 2022 that the Xbox studio had seen a “fast and furious” wave of senior departures over the previous year.

Microsoft told staff on Tuesday that it was shutting four studios.

Arkane, Tango, Alpha Dog and Roundhouse Games will all be closing down, with some staff joining other teams, according to a memo sent to staff.