Scalebound was once heralded as one of the most ambitious action projects of its time, blending dynamic combat, music, and a unique system of interaction with a colossal dragon companion. As an Xbox One exclusive, it sparked significant excitement but ultimately never reached its release. Announced in 2014, the project was officially canceled by Microsoft in 2017 after several years of development.
Recently, Clovers Inc's official account on X shared a video featuring Hideki Kamiya and his team reviewing archived gameplay footage of Scalebound. Kamiya expressed a nostalgic fondness for the game's development process and proudly acknowledged the project, despite its cancellation. He further amplified his sentiments by retweeting the video and directly appealing to Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft's gaming division, with the message, "Come on, Phil, let's do this!". This plea underscores Kamiya's ongoing interest in potentially reviving the game, a desire he has voiced before, notably in early 2022 when he expressed his wish to discuss a possible revival with Microsoft.
The topic of Scalebound's return has been a recurring theme, with rumors intensifying in early 2023 about a possible reboot. Despite these speculations, no official confirmation from Microsoft has been forthcoming. In a recent interview with the Japanese publication Game Watch, when asked about Scalebound, Phil Spencer simply smiled and stated, "I have nothing to add at this time."
Even if Microsoft shows renewed interest, a swift revival of Scalebound seems unlikely. Currently, Hideki Kamiya is engaged in developing a new installment of Okami at Clovers Inc. Should Xbox approve the project, Kamiya would only be able to commence work on Scalebound after concluding his current commitments. However, the continued interest and discussions around Scalebound offer a glimmer of hope that, one day, fans might finally witness the release of this long-awaited title.
