Scalebound Development: A Possible Revival?

Scalebound was once heralded as one of the most ambitious action projects of its time, blending dynamic combat, immersive music, and a unique system of interaction with a massive dragon companion. This title was poised to be a standout Xbox One exclusive, generating significant buzz upon its announcement in 2014. However, after years of anticipation, Microsoft officially pulled the plug on its development in 2017.

Recently, Clovers Inc's official account on X shared a video featuring Hideki Kamiya and his team revisiting archived gameplay footage of Scalebound. In the video, Kamiya reminisced about the game's development process with a sense of pride, despite its cancellation. He further amplified his sentiments by retweeting the video with a direct message to Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division, saying, "Come on, Phil, let's do this!". This plea underscores Kamiya's ongoing interest in reviving the project, a desire he has expressed before, notably in early 2022 when he mentioned wanting to discuss the possibility of resuming development with Microsoft.

The conversation around Scalebound's potential return has been ongoing, with rumors intensifying in early 2023 about a possible reboot. Yet, Microsoft has remained silent on the matter, with Phil Spencer offering only a smile and a non-committal "I have nothing to add at this time" in an interview with Game Watch.

Even if Microsoft were to show renewed interest, fans shouldn't expect a swift revival. Currently, Hideki Kamiya is engaged with his studio, Clovers Inc, working on a new installment of Okami. Should Xbox greenlight Scalebound's return, Kamiya would only be able to commence work after completing his current commitments. Despite the passage of time, the continued discussion and interest in Scalebound offer a glimmer of hope that one day, gamers might finally experience this long-awaited title.