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 game is still alive.

In an interview with XboxEra, Spencer cited Everwild among upcoming titles he's eagerly anticipating. He recently visited Rare, the UK studio behind Sea of Thieves, to assess the game's progress. He highlighted the time afforded to developers of Everwild, State of Decay, and the next Double Fine project, despite Microsoft's busy release schedule, significantly boosted by the acquisitions of Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. Spencer emphasized the company's ability to provide these teams with the necessary development time.

Everwild has faced challenges, including a denied reboot rumor and the departure of creative director Simon Woodroffe in 2020. However, veteran designer Gregg Mayles (known for his work on Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, and Sea of Thieves) stepped in to fill the director role.

While initially described as a third-person adventure game with god game elements, its prolonged development suggests potential changes. The last trailer, released in July 2020, simply described it as: “Everwild is a brand new IP from Rare. A unique and unforgettable experience awaits in a natural and magical world.”

Everwild joins a crowded pipeline of Microsoft games in development, including the Perfect Dark reboot, the next Halo title, Playground's new Fable game, Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls VI, and Activision's annual Call of Duty release. In the nearer term, id Software's Doom: The Dark Ages launches in May.