Things aren’t settling down in Microsoft’s gaming division. Following the shocking cancellation of Perfect Dark and the closure of developer studio The Initiative, the expected happened. The talented leadership team that survived the wreckage quickly struck a deal with rival company Take-Two.

The Perfect Dark cancellation paved the way for a new studio.

According to a Bloomberg report, gaming giant Take-Two seized the opportunity left by Xbox. Darrell Gallagher, former studio head of The Initiative, and creative director Brian Horton have transferred to 2K Games to establish a brand-new studio. This duo, known for their work on major titles like Tomb Raider, Call of Duty, and Marvel’s Spider-Man, will now use their experience for a new adventure.

It also emerged that an interesting negotiation took place behind the scenes. Take-Two wanted to save not only the team but also the Perfect Dark project. However, negotiations with Microsoft failed to reach an agreement on “intellectual property rights.” In conclusion, while the Perfect Dark franchise returns to Xbox’s archives, the team behind the game has moved to a rival company.

The closure of The Initiative is not an isolated event. Xbox’s identity crisis has also led to the cancellation of Rare’s Everwild and ZeniMax Online, two mysterious science fiction MMO projects that had been in development for nearly a decade. Unfortunately, the efforts of fans and Alix Wilton Regan, who voiced Joanna Dark, to revive the Perfect Dark series, which hadn’t seen a new game since 2010, were insufficient.

So, what are your thoughts on the Perfect Dark cancellation and Xbox’s studio management? Do you think Microsoft is wasting its brands? Share your thoughts in the comments!