Perfect Dark: Everything we know so far

(Prototype credit: Microsoft)

The original Perfect Dark launched on the Nintendo 64 in 2000 and received acclaim for its phenomenal gameplay, fantabulous visuals and intuitive artificial intelligence. Even today, it's frequently hailed equally the gold standard for showtime-person shooters. And although the game did very well financially and critically, information technology simply received ane sequel in 2005: Perfect Dark Goose egg. It has been dormant since.

Nonetheless, afterward more xv years, we're finally receiving a new Perfect Nighttime sequel helmed by Xbox'due south newly-formed first-party development studio The Initiative. Non only has Microsoft promised to provide a "AAAA" experience (any that means), but nosotros've also received an exciting cinematic trailer to requite a sense of what to expect from the game'southward story and atmosphere. Information technology's most certainly one of the Xbox Series X's near exciting exclusives. And if it does as well as some of the best PlayStation titles take, it could elevate our expectations for upcoming Xbox games.

Hither'southward everything you need to know about Perfect Dark, including details on its release engagement, setting, story, gameplay and more than.

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Perfect Dark release date

Perfect Dark was revealed in a cinematic teaser trailer at 2022's The Game Awards. Considering nosotros withal oasis't received a lick of gameplay footage, there'south a chance it'due south non coming out this year. However, we do know that when it does come out, it'll arrive on Xbox Game Laissez passer on twenty-four hours ane for Xbox Series 10 | S and PC.

The Initiative has been around since 2022 so assuming the team has been working on Perfect Dark since and so, the game likely has two to three years of development thus far. Games every bit big as this could accept upwardly to five years, so we might not get our easily on Perfect Night until 2022 or 2023.

Design Director Drew Murray is also no longer with the company, every bit he's at present returning to Insomniac Games. Nevertheless, this should be nothing to fear, as he claims he left the company for personal reasons.

Rhonda Cox recently joined The Initiative as Senior Producer. She's previously worked as a producer on God of War, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order and Earth of Warcraft.

Chris Dring from Gamesindustry.biz spoke of Perfect Dark's release date during a VGC Off The Record podcast, claiming that the game is "so far away." He suggests that there could even exist a new Xbox model (mid-tier upgrade) by the time it comes out.

Xbox'due south Gamescom 2022 did not show anything involved with Perfect Dark. This isn't too surprising; the game is going to need a lot more time in the oven before we see whatever gameplay.

The Initiative recently announced that they're partnering with Crystal Dynamics to fulfill their vision of Perfect Nighttime. This has been a cause for business organisation, as Xbox had hyped this studio up as their large AAAA team. It's hard to say what exactly this means for the game, but we'll have to expect until more than footage is shown. Perfect Dark director Daniel Neuburger served as game manager at Crystal Dynamics for many years, which makes the partnership between the 2 companies seem just a little more precedented.

VideoGamesChronicle News Editor Andy Robinson recently tweeted out that he "wouldn't be surprised if a certain super spy returns in the adjacent few weeks." While this could be referring to any number of spies found in games like Splinter Prison cell and Metallic Gear Solid, the most relevant reply might be Perfect Dark. We oasis't heard anything about the game in a little while, so perhaps The Initiative is ready to show off something new.

Perfect Dark setting

Although we weren't shown in-game footage, Perfect Night'south announcement trailer gave us a first wait at the general aesthetic and setting of the game. It will seemingly take place somewhere in Egypt, as the trailer shows our protagonist overlooking a desert tempest that looms over a metropolis. In the background, we can see the presence of three gigantic pyramids.

It'southward as well possible that this Perfect Dark sequel will have us to other parts of the earth also, as spy-thrillers often have the protagonist jumping between setpieces to do their job. We also know that the game takes place in a "near-future," one which will likely be melded with scientific discipline fiction elements.

Perfect Dark gameplay

Currently, there is no gameplay footage for the latest Perfect Dark title. However, we can brand an educated guess on what to expect based on previous entries in the franchise. The original is a level-based first-person shooter where players collect all sorts of unique weapons to battle their mode through complex and unique environments. Information technology also had a arrangement where players have differing amounts of damage depending on where they were hit.

Based on this data, The Initiative'southward Perfect Dark will likely be similar, although we tin probably expect even more weapons, larger levels and unforeseen boosted mechanics. It could also be revealed as an open-world game, which some fans might dislike. Instead, I'g imagining it takes a like arroyo as Doom 2022, where it faithfully sticks to the cadre mechanics of the franchise while modernizing the outdated aspects.

Perfect Dark story

The original Perfect Dark was set in 2023, which is not that far from today, so the new game will likely put players even further into the hereafter. The previous title likewise incorporated heavy science fiction elements, including two alien races having a presence on Earth. Whether or not this remains consistent in The Initiative's version of the story is unknown, as the cinematic trailer seemed sci-fi in a different sense. Society possesses futuristic engineering, with high-tech buildings lining the scenes. Nonetheless, it seemed similar society was on the brink of a massive catastrophe due to a climate emergency.

Perfect Dark in development at Xbox Game Studios — (Image credit: Microsoft)

In the opening of the reveal trailer, giant ice caps brainstorm to melt from the perspective of a satellite hovering over World. We as well see water consume bits of country adjoining continents. As this happens, there is narration describing how the world has changed for the worse as storms, floods and fires overwhelm everything. Information technology hints that corporations accept tried solving these issues, but a greater secret is looming below everything, which is likely where we come up in. In classic spy-thriller fashion, we'll exist working to unravel these mysteries.

Perfect Night on PC

Since all Xbox offset-political party titles are launching on both Xbox and PC, nosotros tin can expect Perfect Dark to do so equally well. We aren't enlightened of the game's official PC requirements, simply considering that information technology's being called a AAAA project, it'll probable be quite demanding. The Xbox Serial Ten GPU is roughly equivalent to an Nvidia RTX GeForce RTX 2070, so if you accept something like this or a chip stronger, it should have decent performance.

Otherwise, we're hoping that even stronger hardware tin make Perfect Dark expect graphically superior to annihilation we've ever seen earlier. Since Microsoft is peachy on calling The Initiative a AAAA studio, I expect them to evangelize an experience that no other AAA can match.