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 fans the project is alive and well.

In an interview with XboxEra, Spencer highlighted Everwild among upcoming titles he's particularly excited about. He recently visited Rare, the UK studio behind Sea of Thieves, to assess the game's progress. He specifically mentioned being impressed by the team's work and the progress they're making on Everwild, alongside similar comments regarding other titles from Double Fine and State of Decay.

Spencer emphasized Microsoft's ability to provide development teams ample time, even with a packed release schedule fueled by acquisitions like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. He cited this as a key factor in allowing games like Everwild to flourish. This contrasts the concerns raised by the game's prolonged development.

Everwild's journey has been marked by challenges, including a denied reboot rumor and the departure of creative director Simon Woodroffe in 2020. The studio appointed veteran designer Gregg Mayles (known for his work on Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, and 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 (July 2020) simply described it as "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's in-development titles, including Perfect Dark, the next Halo installment, Playground's new Fable, Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls VI, Activision's annual Call of Duty, and the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages from id Software.