Possible Revival of Scalebound Development?

Scalebound was once hailed as one of the most ambitious action projects of its era, blending dynamic combat, captivating music, and a unique interaction system with a massive dragon companion. As one of the few Xbox One exclusives, it sparked immense excitement but ultimately never saw the light of day. Announced in 2014, the project was officially discontinued by Microsoft in 2017 after years of development.

Recently, Clovers Inc's official account on X shared a video featuring Hideki Kamiya and his colleagues revisiting archived gameplay footage of Scalebound. During the review, Kamiya expressed a sense of nostalgia about the game's development process and took pride in the project, despite its cancellation. Kamiya further fueled speculation by retweeting the video with a message directed at Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft's gaming division, saying, "Come on, Phil, let's do this!" This statement clearly indicates Kamiya's ongoing interest in reviving the game. This isn't the first time he's hinted at a desire to revisit the project; in early 2022, he mentioned wanting to discuss its potential revival with Microsoft.

Rumors about Scalebound's potential return have been circulating, with a surge in early 2023 when multiple sources suggested a possible reboot. However, Microsoft has yet to make any official announcements. In an interview with Game Watch, a Japanese publication, Phil Spencer responded to questions about Scalebound with a smile and a non-committal, "I have nothing to add at this time."

Even if Microsoft shows interest in reviving Scalebound, fans shouldn't expect an immediate return. Currently, Hideki Kamiya is focused on developing a new installment of Okami at Clovers Inc. Should Xbox greenlight the project, Kamiya would only be able to begin work on Scalebound after completing his current commitments. Despite these hurdles, the persistent interest and nostalgia surrounding Scalebound offer hope that one day, players might finally experience this long-awaited game.