Summary
The recent Xbox Games Showcase was host to plenty of exciting trailers and surprising gameplay reveals, but one of the most unexpected parts of the show was the first footage of the newPerfect Dark. After an initial reveal in 2020,Perfect Darkhas been mostly missing in action over the last 4 years, save for regular reports regarding the game’s troubled development in the hands of new studio The Initiative. Veteran studio Crystal Dynamics was famously brought in to assist with development toward the end of 2021, and it appears its input has been invaluable.Perfect Darklooks to be one of the more promising first-party Xbox games in the company’s release lineup.
Though the title is intended to be a reboot of sorts rather than a sequel or a prequel, thefirst gameplay footage forPerfect Darkthat fans were treated to at the Xbox Games Showcase carries all the signature hallmarks of the series' DNA, along with some other pronounced influences. The high-tech first-person shooting gameplay and spy elements that the originalPerfect Darkis known for are joined by some compelling stealth and infiltration elements surprisingly reminiscent of the modernDeus Exgames. While there’s no concrete release date yet and the title might still be far off,Perfect Darkappears to be heading in the right direction.
Perfect Dark Looks to Carry the Torch for the Deus Ex Series
Though Crystal Dynamics is known for the modernTomb Raidergames made during its partnership with Square Enix, it looks as if a lot of influence from one of its fellow former Square Enix subsidiaries has gone into the newPerfect Dark. Eidos Montreal had plans for a new game in theDeus Exseries to continue whatHuman RevolutionandMankind Dividedhad started. But, those plans were scrapped thanks to the studio’s sale and changing of hands from Square Enix toThe Embracer Group. In a way, glimpses of bothDeus Exand the modernTomb Raidergames can be seen in the initialPerfect Darkgameplay reveal.
While it still remains to be seen just how much freedom players have, it appears fromPerfect Dark’s first trailer that there will be multiple routes to reaching objectives, each of which presents different opportunities for either combat-focused or stealth-focused approaches. Additionally, the new trailer forPerfect Darkseems to indicate that Joanna will have some expanded traversal options, including sliding, climbing, and some light parkour not all that different from Lara’s maneuverability in the trilogy of modernTomb Raidergames orFaith Connors inMirror’s Edge. In terms of the game’s overall direction and tone,Perfect Darkis already shaping up to blend an appealing mix of influences along with the franchise’s legacy.
Perfect Dark’s Lack of a Release Date Means Fans Should Temper Their Expectations
While the gameplay footage seems to indicate that the newPerfect Darktitle has corrected course and is finally on track to deliver what fans of the series were hoping for from a reboot, there’s still one key piece of information missing from the reveal. That, of course, is the projected release date forPerfect Dark. Most of thegames shown off at the Xbox Games Showcaseare either slated to launch later this year or in 2025, butPerfect Dark’s rocky development history could mean that the title is still several years away. Though it might appear to be in a good spot, there’s a lot that could change between now and then.
At the very least, fans should keep their hype in check forPerfect Darkuntil more of the title is shown. There’s a long history of excellent titles with bad trailers and vice versa, and the potential for multiple elements and mechanics shown off inthePerfect Darktrailerto change between now and its eventual release is high. That said, for now, it’s at least reassuring to see that the reboot of one of the best 5th-generation first-person shooters is aiming to appeal to fans of the original game rather than the malignedPerfect Dark Zero.
Perfect Dark (2025)
WHERE TO PLAY
The Initiative’s Perfect Dark sees the return of secret agent Joanna Dark, as she goes on an action-packed journey to hunt down Daniel Carrington. The story-driven FPS game is coming to PC and Xbox consoles.
