This highly promising aborted video game could deserve a second chance
Game news This highly promising aborted video game could deserve a second chance
New video game announcements are always good news, and canceled video game announcements are always bad news. But what about the announcement of the revival of a project that we think is definitively buried? Well, imagine that we have the opportunity to find out!
January 2017 got off to a very bad start for gamers, fans of the Xbox brand or not, but what if January 2023 came with unexpected good news? Starting January 9th, Microsoft formalized to our great regret for the cancellation of Scalebound, The Xbox One console exclusive was also meant to be released on PC. Huge heartbreak for many action-RPG fans seduced by this title was developed by PlatinumGamesfamous developers whose projects make you dream. However, all may not be lost, and maybe there is still hope to see this game reborn from the ashes…
Summary
- One of the saddest cancellations of its generation
- PlatinumGames is eager to collaborate with Microsoft again
One of the saddest cancellations of its generation
For two and a half years, Scalebound was one of the most anticipated titles of its generation.
Announced at E3 2014, Scalebound was one of the first major Xbox One exclusive titles to gain a lot of attention. Historically considered backward in Japan compared to nintendo and sony, The American manufacturer made a big splash by hiring the services of a well-known Japanese studio to produce an exclusive that can attract players from all over the world, looks like Monster Hunter might be more accessible. Known for its thrilling action games (MadWorld, Bayonetta, Vanquish, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance…), the studio co-founded by the equally talented and quirky Hideki Kamiya is more than an excellent choice to offer Xbox and PC gamers exclusive quality titles.
3 months after the cancellation of Scalebound, PlatinumGames has had success with NieR: Automata.
Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan between Microsoft and the developer who had yet to start designing NieR: Automata. Unseen comes first, especially after two press presentations were the subject of a preview at gamescom 2015 and then at E3 2016, the development of the title was actually very complicated, let alone chaotic. Its subsequent cancellation led to much criticism aimed at Microsoft rather than PlatinumGames, and many rumors stated that the studio had used the budget allocated by the manufacturer to develop other projects in parallel, without actually being able to separate right from wrong. However, in late 2021, Hideki Kamiya will explain the reason for the cancellation, pointing out that PlatinumGames was to blame, even providing a public apology from the studio on his behalf.
PlatinumGames is eager to collaborate with Microsoft again
A few weeks after the almost shocking statement by a game designer notable for its somewhat unconventional communications, PlatinumGames said it wanted to relaunch the project. Another co-founder of the studio, Atsushi Inaba stated that “Kamiya (has) always wanted to Scalebound” before adding that they wanted to “have real discussions with Microsoft” (sic). Comment corroborated by his colleague, with enthusiasm tinged with irony, but totally credible:
We’ve been working on it a lot, and there’s no point in Microsoft keeping the game in its current state, so we wanted to do something about it (laughs). Phil! Let’s do it together!
– Hideki Kamiya, excerpt from interview with IGN Japan, February 2022
If Microsoft has removed the trailer for the game from its YouTube channel as well as a dedicated page on the official website, it is clear that the work PlatinumGames has been doing for more than two years has not been completely erased. The studio will then have a certain amount of “material” available to relaunch the project, which seems to be a very real intention on the part of its thinkers, but getting Microsoft’s approval after this fiasco won’t be easy. As part of the XboxEra podcast, a insider specializing in the Xbox scene (Shpeshal_Nick) announced it the two sides have reconnected to discuss the possibility of relaunching the “Scalebound” intellectual property, though discussions are still in their early stages. Obviously, this is just a rumor that should be taken with all tweezers, but maybe good news out of nowhere could be coming soon.
As a reminder, Scalebound is an action RPG in development that puts us in the shoes of a young hero named Drew, and accompanied by a dragon named Thuban. The title is planned to alternate between single-player quests and co-op modes for up to four players. Of course, if the project were to be revived in partnership with Microsoft, now we’d better hope for a title for the Xbox Series, and maybe think about integration. first day on Xbox Game Pass.
