The Initiative is working on Perfect Dark for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC

[DeoGame (Farewell)]

@stealthyfrog

Yeah I don’t get why you people have such a hatred of Geoff. He has a preference, so what, we all have preferences. That’s why we’re on this forum.

I think the issue many have with Geoff is, personal biases aside, he is in a role where he should be a bit more impartial as a sort of de-facto industry spokesman. Now he is misblamed for many things that are more reflective of the industry than his own personal choices. Like, he does not come up with the nominees for the show, the mainstream press does, and the mainstream press is primarily Millenials and Late Gen Z which, objectively, tend to heavily lean PlayStation in an industry that leans PlayStation. That is not on Geoff.

However, there are moments where I feel Geoff the person/journalist is at odds with Geoff the personality/industry spokesman. Like, today with the Phil interview, he seemingly threw shade at Xbox’s lack of single player third person titles which Phil answered well. Or his Basic Cable comment during the IGN interview. He has a big platform and he should know how these will be taken. I still see people prattling on about Xbox being basic cable. Or even just a lack of transperancy on some things like the People’s Choice nominees lacking Flight Sim despite 30 options. Easy way to fix that: switch to write in votes.

However, I think the one thing he will struggle to live down is that pre show from July. Like, I don’t know if it was his choice or YouTube Gaming’s but if the guests have a blatant bias against much of Xbox’s output, openly speak negatively about the brand on Twitter, take bathroom breaks during Halo or simply use the thing as a Roku, don’t bring them on the show. I don’t care how many subs they have, that looks really bad. Like, you could’ve had a show with Alanah Pearce (before she joined Sony), Linus Tech Tips, Metal Jesus (all 3 of these to Geoff’s credit were in the show), Colteastwood, Ryan McCaffrey, Parris, Danny Pena, Rand Al Thor, Jez, etc. Or hell, skip the influencers and get some of the many great devs and people at MS. Like, it just really rubbed me the wrong way. It would be like inviting someone who hates Sony, finds God of War (boring crap) and loves Halo to come on the official Sony preshow to talk about how much it sucks they stopped making Killzone games. It’s a hype killer.

Ultimately, I don’t know how much of this is on Geoff, and for the most part he seems to be a nice guy and he knows how to put on one hell of a show (anybody who is A. Canadian B. Loves Muppets and C. Gets an orchestra to perform video game music gets some real admiration in my books), but I don’t think he’s good at hiding his bias at times, and if he wants to be the industry’s “rich uncle” as one article puts it, playing favorites is not a great look.

Idk, again, everyone is entitled to a preference. Mine is pretty clear here, but if your whole job and persona is to try and be this voice of an industry, at least an illusion of impartiality would be nice, especially when you call into question the value of Game Pass a week after Microsoft paid you for a big ad promoting it at your show. Idk.

[BlackheartVinyl]

@Joe_Sinister1

It would be interesting if insiders who were talking about the game being set in the universe but not featuring Joanna, and it being “seasonal” were actually talking about the MP the whole time but thinking it was the whole game.

I didn’t think of that. It definitely could be that.

[pg2g]

@Joe_Sinister1

I mean weren’t you bitching and moaning when you thought the game was going to be short and episodic and come out sooner, now you are complaining that the game will come out later when it’s completed? What exactly is your argument anyway? Because i am beginning to think you don’t actually have an argument or a point. You just bitch just to bitch no matter what. Or maybe you’re just a troll.

Do what i did and use that ignore feature lol

[DeoGame (Farewell)]

@BlackheartVinyl

I wonder if they’ll do multiplayer. The original (and even Zero) were obviously known for it. But this seems like more of an “Immersive Sim”, which typically are not multiplayer games. Maybe just co-op (both the other games had this as well). Counter Ops, even?

I think there will definitely be Multiplayer. I don’t think Initiative will make it however, outside of a consulting role and asset generation (I do believe they have some MP/live service people in house). I could see Coalition or 343 doing it if they want a breather, or it to be outsourced to a team like Skybox, Certain Affinity, Splash Damage, etc. It could even be RoundHouse studios if they want to cut their teeth on something before making a new IP. For all their later games’ faults, much of the same team that made one of the GOAT FPS games Prey are still there.

[DeoGame (Farewell)]

@Joe_Sinister1

It would be interesting if insiders who were talking about the game being set in the universe but not featuring Joanna, and it being “seasonal” were actually talking about the MP the whole time but thinking it was the whole game.

That makes way too much sense. Like, Seasonal Perfect Dark Universe GAAS is a far cry from Joanna Dark Immersive Sim. Hell, maybe the MP is also crazy ambitious and has a developing episodic story told over custcenes unlocked by playing matches or something.

[BlackheartVinyl]

@DeoGame

Or his Basic Cable comment during the IGN interview.

This didn’t really happen the way people (not necessarily you) keep saying it did, and that’s not Geoff’s fault that other people online are not taking his comment into context. I timestamped it here:

Geoff Keighley Talks Game Awards, Hideo Kojima, Xbox vs. PS5, and More - IGN Unfiltered #53

[DeoGame (Farewell)]

@BlackheartVinyl

This didn’t really happen the way people people keep saying it did, and that’s not Geoff’s fault that other people online are not taking his comment into context. I timestamped it here:

The comment in context is better than the RedDragon or whatever the dude’s name was’ edit. Still, the issue I take with his statement here is it kinda comes across that Xbox is not putting those games into the service after putting FH4, Gears, Outer Worlds, etc. in day one and announcing several big titles like Halo, Fable, Avowed and SoD 3 going in day one. Like, HBO vs Basic Cable, OK games that you beat in a weekend, the big games outside of Game Pass. All of these really kinda underplay the value here. Like, if this comment was made if they were treating the service like PS Now with the odd title when they feel like it for how long they feel like it, then ok, but when they are putting games that cost in excess of 100 million dollars in day one and the value is still being brought into question, I just don’t get it.

[BlackheartVinyl]

@DeoGame

…tter than the RedDragon or whatever the dude’s name was’ edit. Still, the issue I take with his statement here is it kinda comes across that Xbox is not putting those games into the service after putting FH4, Gears, Outer Worlds, etc. in day one and announcing several big titles like Halo, Fable, Avowed and SoD 3 going in day one. Like, HBO vs Basic Cable, OK games that you beat in a weekend, the big games outside of Game Pass. All of these really kinda underplay the value here. Like, if this comment was made if they were treating the service like PS Now with the odd title when they feel like it for how long they feel like it, then ok, but when they are putting games that cost in excess of 100 million dollars in day one and the value is still being brought into question, I just don’t get it.

I have not watched the panel yet from today, so I could be totally way off on this, but in retrospect could his comment to Phil be interpreted as a wink to Phil that they both knew Perfect Dark was about to be revealed and we, the audience, didn’t? Because that is gonna be largely narrative and campaign focused, clearly. I’ll have to watch it myself soon.

[falconx (Michael O'Neill)]

Keep it on topic about perfect dark. Not about Geoff.

Anyway it sounds like she will be an action hero. I like what I heard and always imagined this is what perfect dark should be. Hopefully the hand to hand combat will be good.

[Hindle]

Hmm not confirmed to be first person?

[DeoGame (Farewell)]

@falconx

Keep it on topic about perfect dark. Not about Geoff.

Anyway it sounds like she will be an action hero. I like what I heard and always imagined this is what perfect dark should be. Hopefully the hand to hand combat will be good.

I’m so glad they’re sticking with Jo. Losing one of the OG action heroines just to replace her with someone else would be a real shame. As for the hand to hand, having teams like Arkane a call a way should be a great asset for The Initiative, but part of the fun of Perfect Dark have always been the cool gadgets and reactive AI, so I could see that taking priority.

[DeoGame (Farewell)]

@Hindle

Hmm not confirmed to be first person?

It says First Person shooter on the page for the game and Drew Murray mentioned first person combat and taking inspiration from bodycams and gopros for the physicality. I’m 90% certain it’s first person.

[Hindle]

Mission Impossible should be a major filmic influence. I like how they blend the future with modern day vibe

[Hindle]

@DeoGame

It says First Person shooter on the page for the game and Drew Murray mentioned first person combat and taking inspiration from bodycams and gopros for the physicality. I’m 90% certain it’s first person.

Deus Ex human revolution should be the template

[DeoGame (Farewell)]

@Hindle

Deus Ex human revolution should be the template

Definitely not a bad basis. Deus Ex and Perfect Dark were kinda the OG immersive sims. I think the new one should keep the template of Perfect Dark (checklist based mission structure) but open the levels up and add RPG mechanics like Dishonored or Deus Ex. If they could combine this with crazy setpieces and a strong narrative, it might be one of the finest Xbox games ever.

[falconx (Michael O'Neill)]

@DeoGame

Definitely not a bad basis. Deus Ex and Perfect Dark were kinda the OG immersive sims. I think the new one should keep the template of Perfect Dark (checklist based mission structure) but open the levels up and add RPG mechanics like Dishonored or Deus Ex. If they could combine this with crazy setpieces and a strong narrative, it might be one of the finest Xbox games ever.

The game did give off an open world vibe. My concern is that I hope they can deliver a solid AAA experience. Jez was saying the other day to temper expectations. Not sure what he was referring to in terms of length or production value.

[euV2]

I think they might be going for a GoPro parkour action sort of movement, where you get that really stabilized, fast 1st person POV. They also want the game to have a very defined stylized art style that stands the test of time, Ryan Duffin from the initiative keeps saying on twitter how important this is, and these games age really well (like mirrors edge) and if the trailer is any indication they seem to be going in that route.

Also really like Joanna’s character model and her hairstyle looks neat.

[Joe_Sinister1 (Joe_Sinister)]

From what I can see here, looks like her design will be closer to the original Joanna rather than the PD Zero version. Which is a good thing!

[DeoGame (Farewell)]

@Joe_Sinister1

From what I can see here, looks like her design will be closer to the original Joanna rather than the PD Zero version. Which is a good thing!

It’s definitely an older Joanna.

[DeoGame (Farewell)]

@falconx

The game did give off an open world vibe. My concern is that I hope they can deliver a solid AAA experience. Jez was saying the other day to temper expectations. Not sure what he was referring to in terms of length or production value.

It could be either. It is also the team’s first game, and usually it takes a couple titles to truly mesh. Also a new genre for many of the talent. I’ve said the same of Fable. I think it will be fantastic. I also think it will review like Tsushima or HZD: mid to high 80s. I am happy to be proven wrong with a score in the 90s but it is uncharted territory for PlayGround. The world will almost guaranteed be fantastic, I have great faith in the writers, but it may not be GOAT on their first try.

Similarly here, while the game should be fantastic, it may be a case of “well, that mechanic can be scrapped or this needs tweaking” that doesn’t really exist when you’re making your seventh game on a similar framework (Bethesda, Obsidian, Naughty Dog, Rockstar, etc.)