A short set of in-development gameplay clips from Microsoft’s cancelled Perfect Dark reboot is circulating online. Reports say the roughly two-minute video shows multiple stages of development, including early grey-box gunplay testing, character abilities, and at least one sequence involving destructible objects.
Outlet descriptions vary in emphasis but largely agree on the same content. One report highlights a parkour-heavy chase through a deteriorating facility, while another focuses on shooting and explosion mechanics as well as what it characterizes as an execution involving fruit. The footage is attributed to The Initiative, the studio that was developing the reboot, which Microsoft cancelled as part of large layoffs. The reboot was originally announced in 2020 and later shut down in 2025, according to the sources. None of the reports provide details on how the footage was obtained or confirm its completeness beyond the clips shown.
