Scalebound: A Possible Comeback?

Scalebound was once heralded as one of the most ambitious action projects of its time, seamlessly blending dynamic combat, captivating music, and a unique system of interaction with a colossal dragon companion. As one of the rare Xbox One exclusives, it sparked immense interest among gamers, but unfortunately, never saw the light of day. Announced in 2014, its development was officially halted by Microsoft in 2017.

Recently, the official account of Clovers Inc on X shared a video featuring Hideki Kamiya and his colleagues reminiscing over archived gameplay footage of Scalebound. Kamiya expressed a nostalgic fondness for the game's creation process and reiterated his pride in the project, despite its cancellation. He further fueled speculation by retweeting the video with a message directed at Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division: "Come on, Phil, let's do this!". This plea underscores Kamiya's ongoing interest in reviving the game, a sentiment he has voiced before, notably in early 2022 when he mentioned his willingness to discuss resuming development with Microsoft.

Speculation about Scalebound's return has been a recurring topic, gaining momentum in early 2023 with rumors of a potential reboot. However, Microsoft has yet to make any official announcements. In an interview with the Japanese publication Game Watch, Phil Spencer responded to inquiries about Scalebound with a smile and a cryptic, "I have nothing to add at this time".

Even if Microsoft shows renewed interest in the project, fans shouldn't expect a swift revival. Currently, Hideki Kamiya is fully engaged with developing a new installment of Okami at Clovers Inc. Should Xbox decide to greenlight Scalebound, Kamiya would only be able to commence work after completing his current commitments. Yet, the enduring interest in Scalebound offers hope that one day, this long-awaited game might finally reach players.