Scalebound: Possible Revival in Development?

Scalebound was once heralded as one of the most ambitious action projects of its era, blending dynamic combat, music, and a unique system of interaction with a massive dragon companion. As an Xbox One exclusive, it sparked immense excitement upon its announcement in 2014. However, despite the high anticipation, Microsoft officially canceled its development in 2017.

Recently, the official Clovers Inc 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 development with nostalgia and expressed continued pride in the project, despite its cancellation. Kamiya further amplified the buzz by retweeting the video with a direct message to Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division: "Come on, Phil, let's do this!" This plea indicates Kamiya's ongoing interest in reviving Scalebound, echoing sentiments he shared back in early 2022 about wanting to discuss a potential restart with Microsoft.

Rumors about Scalebound's possible return have been circulating, gaining momentum in early 2023. Several sources hinted at a potential reboot, although Microsoft has yet to make any official statements on the matter. When questioned by the Japanese publication Game Watch, Phil Spencer offered a coy smile and responded, "I have nothing to add at this time."

Even if Microsoft were to show interest in reviving Scalebound, a swift return of the game is unlikely. Currently, Hideki Kamiya is engaged with a new installment of Okami at Clovers Inc. Should Xbox decide to greenlight the project, Kamiya's involvement would be delayed until after his current commitments are fulfilled. Nonetheless, the persistent interest in Scalebound after all these years offers hope that fans might one day see this long-awaited title come to fruition.