Scalebound: Rumors of Revival Spark Interest

Scalebound was once heralded as one of the most ambitious action projects of its era, blending dynamic combat, engaging music, and a novel system of interaction with a colossal dragon companion. This title stood out as a rare Xbox One exclusive that sparked significant excitement but unfortunately never saw the light of day. Initially announced in 2014, its development was officially ceased by Microsoft 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. Kamiya, reminiscing about the game's development, expressed pride in the project despite its cancellation. He further amplified the sentiment 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 indicates Kamiya's ongoing interest in reviving the game, a wish he has voiced before, notably in early 2022 when he expressed a desire to negotiate with Microsoft about resuming the project.

The conversation around Scalebound's potential return has been persistent, with rumors intensifying in early 2023. While multiple sources suggested a possible reboot, Microsoft remained silent on the matter. In a recent interview with the Japanese publication Game Watch, when asked about Scalebound, Phil Spencer offered only a smile and a non-committal response: "I have nothing to add at this time."

Even if Microsoft were to show renewed interest, an immediate revival of Scalebound seems unlikely. Currently, Hideki Kamiya is immersed in developing a new installment of Okami at Clovers Inc. Should Xbox decide to greenlight the project, Kamiya would be able to start working on it only after concluding his current commitments. However, the fact that Scalebound remains in the minds of its creators and fans after all these years offers a glimmer of hope that one day, this long-awaited game might finally be released.