Xbox and Crystal Dynamics’ collab on Perfect Dark was a ‘no-brainer’
In September, Xbox announced a partnership with Crystal Dynamics, the veteran Square Enix Studio behind the Tomb Raider series. With this new partnership, Xbox’s new in-house studio, The Initiative, will co-develop the upcoming Perfect Dark reboot with Crystal Dynamics.
Matt Booty, Head of Xbox Game Studios, was pretty vocal about his opinion on the partnership – labeling the duo as a “no-brainer.” The roster for The Initiative states the obvious as well since Crystal Dynamics’ former head, Darrell Gallagher, leads the studio with Tomb Raider’s previous game director, Daniel Neuburger, commanding the Perfect Dark project.
Crystal Dynamics’ proven success
Through their connections, Booty believed it would be beneficial to have a team like Crystal Dynamics, who “has got great pedigree, good success, [and] just a lot of skill” that could excel with another rebooted female-lead IP like Perfect Dark. During a video interview with Kinda Funny Games, Booty described The Initiative’s project journey:
“We’ve got a team that’s got experience building the kind of thing that we’re building, who’s worked with some of the people that’s now available, you know, it was not a standard situation because they’re not usually out billing themselves as sort of a co-development studio like many places are, but we found a way to make it work and I think it was through some of the personal connections that we’ve got.”
Co-development between The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics should ease the challenges the teams have with familiar faces leading the charge. Many speculate, however, that Perfect Dark will be a third-person action game as opposed to its’ staple first-person shooter gameplay. No matter the course it takes, an impressive 3D polish is bound to revitalize and reimagine the series with both studios on deck.
Via: VGC
