A level designer involved in the development of the Perfect Dark reboot has addressed allegations that the gameplay footage shown during the 2024 Xbox showcase was largely fabricated. The highly anticipated revival of the classic Nintendo 64 first-person spy shooter was officially announced at The Game Awards 2020. However, following Microsoft's gaming division layoffs in July 2025, The Initiative studio was closed, and the project was ultimately canceled.

The three-minute gameplay demo showcased at the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase featured stunning visuals, diverse stealth mechanics, and a glimpse into the new storyline. However, questions arose about the authenticity of the footage when a Kotaku reporter claimed the trailer was "basically fake."

Former Perfect Dark level designer Adam McDonald provided clarification through a series of posts on Bluesky. He confirmed that while the trailer was indeed created using the game engine, certain elements were carefully curated to present the best possible version of the gameplay. McDonald explained that the parkour, hacking systems, and combat mechanics shown were functional but worked optimally only when played in the specific manner demonstrated in the video.

McDonald described the trailer as a "typical vertical slice" - a common practice in game development where a polished segment is created to showcase a game's potential. He acknowledged there was "some fake stuff" in the presentation but emphasized that core gameplay systems were genuine, though operating within tightly controlled parameters.