Scalebound was once heralded as one of the most ambitious action projects, blending dynamic combat, immersive music, and a novel system for interacting with a colossal dragon companion. As an Xbox One exclusive announced in 2014, it captured the imagination of gamers everywhere. However, after years of anticipation, Microsoft officially ceased its development in 2017, leaving fans disappointed.
Recently, the official Clovers Inc account on X shared a video of Hideki Kamiya and his team revisiting archived gameplay footage of Scalebound. In the video, Kamiya spoke fondly of the game's development process and expressed ongoing pride in the project, despite its cancellation. He further amplified this sentiment by retweeting the video with a direct message to Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division: "Come on, Phil, let's do this!" This call-out indicates Kamiya's continued interest in reviving the game, echoing his earlier statements from 2022 about wanting to resume development with Microsoft.
Rumors about Scalebound's potential return have circulated, especially gaining traction in early 2023, though Microsoft has yet to make any official announcements. In a recent interview with Game Watch, Phil Spencer responded to queries about Scalebound with a smile and the comment, "I have nothing to add at this time," leaving fans to speculate.
Even if Microsoft were to reconsider, a swift revival of Scalebound seems unlikely. 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. Yet, the enduring interest and discussions around Scalebound after all these years keep hope alive that this long-awaited game might one day see the light of day.
