Scalebound was once one of the most ambitious action projects of its time, blending dynamic combat, music, and a unique system of interaction with a massive dragon companion. This project became one of the rare Xbox One exclusives that sparked immense interest but ultimately never saw the light of day. Initially announced in 2014, the game's development was officially halted by Microsoft in 2017.
Recently, Clovers Inc's official account on X shared a video featuring Hideki Kamiya and his colleagues reviewing archived gameplay footage of Scalebound. In the video, Kamiya nostalgically reminisced about the game's creation and expressed continued pride in the project, despite its cancellation. Kamiya further amplified the message by retweeting the video with a direct plea to Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft's gaming division, saying, "Come on, Phil, let's do this!" This statement underscores Kamiya's ongoing interest in reviving the game, a sentiment he had previously shared in early 2022 when he mentioned his willingness to discuss resuming development with Microsoft.
The conversation around Scalebound's potential revival has been ongoing, with rumors intensifying in early 2023. Several sources hinted at a possible reboot, though Microsoft has yet to make any official announcements. When questioned about Scalebound in an interview with the Japanese publication Game Watch, Phil Spencer simply smiled and stated, "I have nothing to add at this time."
Even if Microsoft were to express interest in reviving Scalebound, a swift return should not be anticipated. Currently, Hideki Kamiya is engaged with developing a new installment of Okami at Clovers Inc. Should Xbox give the green light, Kamiya would only be able to commence work on Scalebound after concluding his current commitments. Nevertheless, the enduring interest in the game after all these years offers hope that one day, players might finally experience the long-awaited release.
