While it wasn't the biggest surprise in the world, it was still nice to discover that the Initiative's next game was indeed a Perfect Dark sequel. The prevailing rumor surrounding the studio, paired with the numerous industry veterans joining the development team, led many to believe the studio's inaugural game could be a Perfect Dark entry. Lo and behold, the stealth-action game that was arguably a progenitor for the stealth genre is being brought back by a new studio. It's been a long time coming for the series, but the timing couldn't be better. In the last few years, there's been a sore scarcity of stealth-first games.
Ironically enough, after a decade of dormancy, the next Perfect Dark may be doing more than just bringing back a long-thought "dead" franchise. Stealth games have branched out a lot since the Splinter Cell days, evolving away from being strictly stealth-only to a variety of genres. Horror games, action/adventure games, RPGs, many of the recent releases in these genres incorporate stealth mechanics, but it's never the focus of the experience. Games like Hitman and Dishonored are a rare breed of games that reward intelligent stealth well, but most other stealth games cater to niche audiences. Perfect Dark could emphasize the desire for stealth-focused games.
Perfect Dark Emphasizes the Sorely Missed Stealth Game
Now, to be fair, there's been no gameplay shown for the new Perfect Dark game publicly. Considering how recently announced this game is, that makes sense. However, Perfect Dark as described by the Initiative, sounds like a game that's going to be emphasizing espionage and stealth mechanics as the main draw. Described as a "secret agent thriller," Perfect Dark seems to be focusing inherently on concepts of "getting into places unseen," alongside the use of gadgets and technology. Similar to what game director Dan Neuburger states in the developer interview, there truly aren't any games out there that specifically focus on stealth and espionage gameplay.
That kind of stealth-genre enthusiast game really isn't available in modern games, save for a few outliers. Even then, recently released stealth games like the Hitman reboot, Dishonored, Alien Isolation, Metal Gear Solid 5, these all have stealth mechanics but aren't necessarily stealth-driven. In all of those aforementioned examples, those games do not punish/discourage players from playing "loud" or aggressively. Perfect Dark could be the game to show how simulatory stealth experiences, despite enticing a niche audience, are still worth catering too. It's why some of the best stealth franchises, like Splinter Cell and Deus Ex, are loved by stealth game fans.
Stealth Games Could See New Life, Thanks to Perfect Dark
However, assuming Perfect Dark does become the true-to-form stealth game that the developer interviews infer, it may be able to reinvigorate that stealth-first genre. Critical and media reception of the game will certainly dictate what the reaction to a traditional stealth game is like, and whether future efforts in the genre may succeed. For years now, fans have been asking for a traditional reboot or sequel of Splinter Cell, one of Ubisoft's biggest franchises. Granted, it doesn't help that Splinter Cell's protagonist Sam Fisher has had more cameo appearances in other Ubisoft games throughout the last decade than appearances in actual Splinter Cell games.
Assuming Perfect Dark lives up to its promise of espionage-focused "secret agent" style gameplay, it could hopefully instill some confidence in Ubisoft's long dormant franchise as well. To be fair, as popular as Splinter Cell used to be, stealth games have certainly become more niche than they ever were previously. Most modern games are dedicated to providing players options, rather than honing in on and emphasizing one specific gameplay method. Perfect Dark and Splinter Cell releasing on next-gen consoles have the chance to breath new life into a genre that hasn't seen much support in the last decade, at least in comparison to its previous popularity.
The Stealth-Focused Action Game Deserves a Revival
Recently released games have at least shown that there's potential in a strictly stealth-oriented game. For as much backlash as Cyberpunk 2077 has received, stealth gameplay in CD Projekt Red's latest RPG is very reminiscent of classic Splinter Cell games like Chaos Theory. Utilizing hacking and gadgets to distract enemies for takedowns, or even avoiding fights altogether, is exactly what made Splinter Cell Chaos Theory so special as a stealth game. Hitman and Dishonored march to a similar beat, though they don't quite match the inherently stealth-focused gameplay of traditional Splinter Cell games.
Regardless, with Perfect Dark potentially adopting a similar gameplay style to previous Splinter Cell games, there may be hope for fans looking for a proper stealth game. Considering Ubisoft hasn't exactly instilled confidence in Splinter Cell fans hoping for a new entry, Perfect Dark may be the next best bet. If anything, assuming Perfect Dark releases prior to a new Splinter Cell game (which it very well could at this point), perhaps the reception of Perfect Dark's stealth gameplay may serve as an encouraging sign for more stealth-focused gameplay experiences.
Perfect Dark is currently in development.