Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Issues Update on Rare’s Long in Development Everwild

What happened to Rare's Everwild? Announced over five years ago at Microsoft's X019 presentation, its absence from subsequent Xbox showcases and swirling reboot rumors have fueled speculation about its fate. However, Xbox boss Phil Spencer assures us the project is alive and well.

In a recent interview with XboxEra, Spencer confirmed Everwild as one of his highly anticipated upcoming releases. He recently visited Rare, the UK studio behind Sea of Thieves, to witness firsthand the game's development progress. He highlighted Rare's work alongside other projects, emphasizing the time afforded to developers at studios like Double Fine and State of Decay. Microsoft's ability to provide this extended development time, even with a packed release schedule fueled by acquisitions like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard, is a key factor.

Spencer's comments emphasize Microsoft's commitment to giving these teams the necessary time to create their games, further illustrated by his upcoming visit to Coalition, the Gears of War developer.

Everwild's journey has faced challenges. A denied reboot rumor and the departure of creative director Simon Woodroffe in 2020 caused concern. However, Rare appointed veteran designer Gregg Mayles (Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Pinata, Sea of Thieves) to fill the director's role.

While early reports described Everwild as a third-person adventure game with god game elements, its extended development suggests potential changes. The last trailer, from July 2020, simply described it as "a brand new IP from Rare. A unique and unforgettable experience awaits in a natural and magical world."

Microsoft's development pipeline is extensive, including titles like the Perfect Dark reboot, the next Halo installment, Playground's new Fable game, Bethesda's Elder Scrolls VI, and Activision's annual Call of Duty release. Id Software's Doom: The Dark Ages is also slated for a May release.