Take-Two’s New Adventure: From Canceled Dreams to a Fresh Start
In a plot twist straight out of a video game, Take-Two has scooped up the brains behind the doomed Perfect Dark reboot. Yes, the same squad that was trying to breathe life into a beloved classic—only for it all to go up in smoke faster than a player’s hopes of getting a legendary loot drop.
Once Upon a Cancelled Reboot
Picture this: a shiny reboot of Perfect Dark, the legendary spy shooter from developer Rare, with all the modern bells and whistles. It was like Christmas for gamers! Announced back in 2020 and teased in last summer’s Xbox Summer Showcase, hopes were sky-high—until the inevitable plot twist happened in July and the project was abruptly canceled. Spoiler alert: the studio itself was also shut down, joining the ranks of gaming’s graveyard of unfinished projects. Talk about a double whammy!
Meet the New Avengers—Well, Sort Of
Enter stage left: Darrell Gallagher and Brian Horton. These two were the head honchos of the ill-fated initiative, but rather than sulk in a corner, Take-Two decided it was time to throw some cash and a few office plants their way to create a brand-new studio within the 2K multiverse. Bravo!
According to the ever-reliable Jason Schreier, who is basically the Sherlock Holmes of gaming news, this dynamic duo is set to delve into the depths of game development once again. However, just like a high-stakes game of poker, no one knows what hand they’ll play next. The whereabouts of the studio, what it will be named, or even what kind of game it will develop remains shrouded in mystery. Perhaps they’ll develop a game about figuring out what game they’ll make!
The Plot Thickens
But wait, there’s more! Before this adventure began, there were whispers of Take-Two swooping in to adopt the now-canceled Perfect Dark reboot, much like a plucky hero rescuing a distressed kitten. Discussions were held with Microsoft and Embracer to find a loving home for this project, but the deal fell apart faster than a pixelated character taking a tumble off a cliff. Apparently, the companies could not come to an agreement about who would keep the rights to this franchise. Because why not make things more complicated?
To add some extra drama to the story, Microsoft had its own summer sizzle, declaring significant layoffs that sent approximately 4% of its workforce into the great unknown. This included around 9,100 souls—yikes! Alongside Perfect Dark, the ambitious Everwild, a project that seemed to take longer to release than a sequel to a popular movie, was also unceremoniously shelved.
What’s Next? The Mystery Continues
For now, the fate of the new studio and its projects is a ticking time bomb of intrigue. Will Gallagher and Horton reinvent the wheel, or will they tumble back into a black hole of canceled potentials? Only time will tell. Until then, it seems that gamers are just stuck hitting “refresh” on their favorite forums, waiting for a glimmer of any news that isn’t just a collective sigh.
So, here’s to hoping that this unexpected reunion at Take-Two results in something more exciting than just an undelivered promise. After all, gamers are rooting for the underdogs and the comeback kids!

