The Initiative studio of Microsoft seems to be going ahead full throttle. New reports claim that’s it working on a Perfect Dark reboot game.
According to IGN, the new secret “AAA” studio of Microsoft is adding several people from Naughty Dog. And it seems like Perfect Dark is the game. It is the confidential title that Microsoft is working on.
Although it’s not official and only a rumor now, recent additions to The Initiative studio give a slight hint of something big.
Naughty Dog’s ex-animator who worked on Uncharted and The Last of Us games has joined it. The former technical director from the developer is on board as well.
Additionally, Lee Davis has been appointed as The Initiative’s head Gameplay Animator. He’s also been Naughty Dog’s former head of Melee Animation.
Microsoft’s new AAA studio The Initiative has added ex-Naughty Dog animator Lee Davis and character shader Lauren Garcia to its growing roster of top-tier talent. https://t.co/FdqBhBISSI pic.twitter.com/3agHWNJxu0
— IGN (@IGN) October 14, 2020
Perfect Dark game reboot in the works?
The iconic title, Perfect Dark, was a first-person shooter game released in 2000 by Rare. It was for the Nintendo 64 console.
The game was developed by Rare, Nintendo, Ultimate Play The Game, and 4J Studios.
Upon release, it also won the Satellite Award for Best Interactive Product or Video Game.
It follows the story of Joanna Dark, an agent of the Carrington Institute research center. In the game plot, she tries to stop an extraterrestrial conspiracy by a rival firm, dataDyne.
The fact that it’s so acclaimed among critics and gamers combined makes it one of the best games to date.
As of now, it’s not known what The Initiative studio is currently working on. But IGN believes that it might be a reboot of Perfect Dark.
Microsoft future game projects
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Ongoing titles by the Windows company include Halo Infinite. But there are many more to arrive later in 2021.
With Bethesda’s acquisition last recently, the company is all set to make big “AAA” titles.
Newly added studios involve Arkane Studios, id Software, MachineGames, and Tango Gameworks.
Speaking of unreleased projects in the making, they include Grounded. Its release is not yet announced, but it might arrive next year. Obsidian Entertainment and Black Shamrock develop it.
Other future titles are Psychonauts 2, Age of Empires IV, As Dusk Falls, Avowed, Everwild, Fable, and Forza Motorsport.
Minecraft Earth, Project: Mara, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, and State of Decay 3 are several other upcoming games.
As The Initiative secret studio keeps hiring former employees of big developers, things are looking interesting. Yes, there’s no chance of any official news coming out anytime sooner from Microsoft.
But it looks like the rumor over a Perfect Dark reboot might come true in the coming months.
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