The lead actor ofPerfect Dark, The Initiative’s recently canceled reboot of the classic N64 FPS, is calling on fans to make their voices heard in an attempt to save the game from the chopping block. It’s not a certainty that fan feedback will change the minds of the powers that be at Microsoft aboutPerfect Dark, but Joanna Dark actor Alix Wilton Regan thinks it’s at least worth a shot.
Released in 2000, the originalPerfect Darkwas published and developed by Rare as a spiritual successor toGoldenEye 007, but it was able to carve out a path all its own, registering positive sales figures and earning high praise from numerous critics. The reboot, which would have taken advantage of technological leaps forward in the past quarter-century and would have introduced a new story, was announced atThe Game Awards 2020.
But on June 25, 2025, Microsoft announced that thePerfect Darkreboot was canceled and developer The Initiative would be shut downamid a massive restructuring effort affecting multiple studios operating under the Xbox banner, including the reported cancellation of multiple games and the termination of up to four percent of the overall workforce. Regan responded quickly via her Twitter account, expressing heartbreak for herself and everyone else affected by the game’s announced cancellation. But less than 48 hours later, her follow-up post is issuing a call to action from the series' fan base. In the overnight hours leading up to July 4, Regan allowed herself to be hopeful about the future and called on gamers to “speak up if you wanna see Perfect Dark survive.”
Even with massive support from fans, savingPerfect Darkfrom cancellation could be an uphill battle. The game appears to be much further behind in the development process than many fans had been led to believe, as rumors have been swirling that aPerfect Darkgameplay trailer from 2024 was fake. Adam McDonald, who had been working on level design for the canceled game, responded to these reports by stating the many gameplay features shown in the trailer performed as presented, including the parkour, hacking, and detection systems. However, the gameplay footage was taken from a demo build that was designed to be played exactly as presented in the trailer, and McDonald’s comments indicated that systems at the time were working just well enough to make that section of the game “look good.”
Perfect Darkisn’t the only game to have hit the chopping block amid Microsoft’s recent layoffs. Original developer Rare’s action-adventure titleEverwild, which had been in development for over a decade, has also been canceled, and director Gregg Mayles is reportedly leaving the company after more than 35 consecutive years of service there. Additionally, an unannounced MMO from the team behindThe Elder Scrolls Onlinehas been scrapped after entering development in 2018, andZeniMax Online Studios president Matt Firor is stepping downfrom his role.
