Gameplay footage from cancelled Xbox Perfect Dark game leaks online, and it looks pretty good
Last year, we learned that Xbox cancelled a reboot of Perfect Dark . The game, in development at The Initiative, was cancelled as part of 2025's wave of wide-ranging cuts at Microsoft and Xbox . In 2026, of course, things have only gotten worse for the company . Read more
Last year, it was reported that Xbox had canceled a reboot of the popular first-person shooter, Perfect Dark. This cancellation was part of a broader restructuring at Microsoft and Xbox in 2025. Although the gaming landscape has become more challenging for the company in recent times, the leaked gameplay footage of the cancelled Perfect Dark game offers a rare peek into what the project could have been.
The exclusive gameplay video, discovered by MP1ST, showcases a selection of weapons that the protagonist, Joanna Dark, would have wielded, as well as various levels she would have traversed in her quest. MP1ST, a source that has previously worked on multiple gaming franchises, claims to have obtained this VFX artist's footage. While the authenticity of the footage remains uncertain, it undeniably looks promising.
The video includes early stage level layouts, basic gunplay testing, a few special abilities, and even a few destructible objects. The Perfect Dark project, developed by The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics, was first announced in December 2020. However, the development of the game has faced criticism, with reports suggesting that it was behind schedule and in a rough state even after the announcement.
In May 2024, there were rumors that the game might have been acquired by Take-Two Interactive, but this deal did not materialize.
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