Scalebound: Hopes for Revival Sparked

Scalebound was once one of the most ambitious action projects of its time, seamlessly blending dynamic combat, immersive music, and a unique system of interaction with a massive dragon companion. As an Xbox One exclusive, it sparked immense interest but ultimately never saw the light of day. Announced in 2014, the project was officially halted by Microsoft in 2017, leaving fans and developers alike with a sense of what could have been.

Recently, the official account of Clovers Inc on X posted a video featuring Hideki Kamiya and his colleagues reviewing archived gameplay footage of Scalebound. During the review, Kamiya shared nostalgic reflections on the game's creation process and expressed his continued pride in the project, despite its cancellation. Kamiya further amplified this sentiment by retweeting the video with a poignant message aimed at Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division: "Come on, Phil, let's do this!" This direct call to action underscores Kamiya's ongoing interest in reviving the game, a desire he has voiced before, notably in early 2022 when he expressed his willingness to discuss resuming development with Microsoft.

The conversation around Scalebound's potential return has resurfaced multiple times, with rumors intensifying in early 2023 about a possible reboot. However, Microsoft has yet to make any official statements on the matter. In a recent interview with the Japanese publication Game Watch, when asked about Scalebound, Phil Spencer responded with a smile and a cryptic, "I have nothing to add at this time," leaving fans to speculate about the project's future.

Even if Microsoft does show renewed interest in Scalebound, a swift revival shouldn't be anticipated. Hideki Kamiya is currently engrossed in developing a new installment of Okami at Clovers Inc. Should Xbox greenlight Scalebound's return, Kamiya would only be able to commence work after completing his current commitments. Despite these challenges, the fact that Scalebound remains in the hearts and minds of both its creator and its fanbase after all these years offers a glimmer of hope. Perhaps one day, gamers will finally experience the long-awaited release of this once-promising title.