Perfect Dark is a science fiction video game franchise created by Rare and owned by Microsoft Studios. The series is set in the 2020s and focuses on the experiences of Carrington Institute agent Joanna Dark, code named "Perfect Dark", as she uncovers numerous conspiracies by rival corporation dataDyne. The franchise debuted in 2000 with the Nintendo 64 first-person shooter Perfect Dark, which received strong acclaim from critics and players, leading to the franchise's expansion. Due to Microsoft's acquisition of Rare in 2002, the development of subsequent games in the series was transferred to Microsoft video game consoles.