Scalebound: Hints of a Possible Revival?

Scalebound was once hailed as one of the most ambitious action projects of its time, featuring dynamic combat, engaging music, and a unique system of interaction with a massive dragon companion. This title was poised to be a standout Xbox One exclusive, stirring significant excitement 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 reviewing archived gameplay footage of Scalebound. In the video, Kamiya reminisced about the game's creation 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 persistent, with rumors intensifying in early 2023 about a possible reboot. Yet, Microsoft has remained silent on the matter. In an interview with Game Watch, when asked about Scalebound, Phil Spencer offered a smile and a non-committal response, "I have nothing to add at this time."

Even if Microsoft were to show renewed interest, a swift revival of Scalebound is unlikely. Currently, Hideki Kamiya is engaged with his studio, Clovers Inc, working on a new installment of Okami. Should Xbox decide to greenlight the project, Kamiya would only be able to commence work on Scalebound after completing his current commitments. Despite these hurdles, the enduring interest in Scalebound over the years keeps the hope alive that one day, gamers might finally experience this long-awaited title.