The developer of Perfect Dark responds to the controversy over the supposed fake trailer of the game

One of the creators of the 2024 trailer claims it was playable and did not seek to deceive.

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Following the recent layoffs at Xbox and the closure of The Initiative, the canceled Perfect Dark is once again making headlines. One of the most discussed controversies surrounds the trailer shown in 2024, which some have labeled as misleading or even fake.

Now, Adam McDonald, former level designer for the game, has publicly responded to this accusation. According to him, the trailer was based on a real and functional demo, and although some creative liberties were taken, there was no intention to deceive the public about the game’s experience.

The Perfect Dark trailer was “playable and real”, according to one of its designers

McDonald has clarified on social media that the trailer’s demo was integrated into the game engine and was fully playable. He himself was one of the three designers who worked on that section. Although he admits that some sequences were prepared to look good on video, he emphasizes that the parkour and hacking and stealth systems were real, and that the combat, although choreographed, worked in that context.

We made real design decisions quickly to not knowingly lie to players“, he stated, adding that seeing how the idea that “everything was fake” has spread has bothered him especially. “That’s why I wanted to say something”, he concludes. He also expressed his surprise at the cancellation, ensuring that in the last few months the development was going “better than ever”.

Although Perfect Dark will no longer see the light of day, the debate surrounding its production and presentation will continue to generate discussion. What is clear, at least from the perspective of those involved, is that the intention was never to deceive, despite the editing decisions made for the trailer.