Hideki Kamiya Hints to Xbox That It’s Time to Revive Scalebound

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Scalebound’s dream isn’t going anywhere, at least not for Hideki Kamiya.

Initially conceived as an exhilarating role-playing game featuring intense battles and a complex dragon-partner mechanism, Scalebound was intended to shine as a unique exclusive title for the Xbox One era.

Although Microsoft faced numerous obstacles over many years, they ultimately abandoned the project in 2017, leaving it as a mere concept that might have been. More than seven years later, Kamiya is advocating for Xbox to reconsider this game, and there’s growing curiosity about whether this possibility could become reality.

Kamiya, who founded the studio Clover, recently shared a video featuring him and his team revisiting old Scalebound game footage. He expressed his wish to work on it again in the future, followed by a bold invitation to Spencer, saying, “Let’s bring it back, Phil.

Kamiya has often discussed the possibility of resurrecting Scalebound. In 2021, he publicly apologized to Microsoft for the game’s disappointing outcome, admitting that PlatinumGames wasn’t ready for a project of such grand proportions at the time. However, by 2022, he was advocating for another opportunity to work on Scalebound again.

From his recent comments, it seems clear that Kamiya hasn’t given up on the project yet. However, even if he’s ready, Microsoft might not be, as they still hold the rights to Scalebound. Any potential revival would need Microsoft’s approval. Interestingly, Xbox has expressed a desire to revisit old projects, but Scalebound may not align perfectly with their current game lineup.

Following the cancellation of certain projects, Xbox has expanded its collection of first-party studios and is currently developing several role-playing games set in fantasy worlds. The latest addition is ‘Avowed’, while ‘Fable’ is being reimagined, ‘The Elder Scrolls 6’ continues to be developed, and IO Interactive is working on ‘Project Dragon’. With numerous projects already in progress, Microsoft may not find it essential to reinvest in the development of ‘Scalebound’.

To put it simply, Xbox has undergone a transformation since 2017. In the past, it was squarely in competition with PlayStation and Nintendo, focusing on developing exclusive games to boost its console. However, today, Microsoft is expanding its reach by making more of its games available on platforms like PlayStation and Switch.

Instead, shifting the strategy for Scalebound might be beneficial. If Microsoft decides to reintroduce the game on multiple platforms, it would potentially increase its reach among a broader audience, thus improving the chances of recovering the development expenses.

Although Xbox might consider a revival for Scalebound, it’s unlikely to occur immediately. As a fresh studio, Clovers is currently focused on creating a sequel to Okami together with Capcom. Since the project is still in its initial stages, it will probably take quite some time before Clovers is prepared to tackle something as complex as Scalebound.

If Microsoft approves the game, it’s likely to be a lengthy endeavor, potentially requiring a new beginning instead of using elements from the initial version. Scalebound could still be an unrealized project, but Kamiya’s continued enthusiasm indicates that the fire for it is still burning brightly.

There’s some uncertainty whether Xbox will take action, but at minimum, the discussion surrounding Scalebound has been rekindled.

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2025-03-04 04:41