Scalebound's dream isn't going anywhere, at least not for Hideki Kamiya.
Originally imagined as a thrilling action RPG that combined fast-paced combat with an intricate dragon-companion system, Scalebound was meant to be a standout exclusive for the Xbox One generation.
Despite years of challenges, Microsoft ended the project in 2017, leaving it as little more than a lofty what-if. Over seven years later, Kamiya is once again urging Xbox to revive the game, and now people are wondering if it could actually happen.
Clovers, the studio Kamiya co-founded, posted a video showing him and his team watching old Scalebound footage. "I'd love to make it again someday," he said before doubling down with a direct call to Spencer: "Let's do it, Phil."
The idea of reviving Scalebound has been something Kamiya has talked about numerous times. Back in 2021, he publicly apologized to Microsoft for the game's failure, acknowledging that PlatinumGames was not prepared for such a large-scale project at the time. By 2022, he was campaigning for another chance to work on Scalebound.
Based on his latest remarks, it's obvious he's not willing to walk away from the project yet. But even if Kamiya is ready, Xbox might not be. The rights to Scalebound still belong to Microsoft, meaning any revival would have to go through them. The company has shown interest in revisiting old projects, but with Xbox's current lineup, Scalebound is a more rigid fit.
Since the cancellation, Xbox has increased its first-party studio count and has several fantasy RPGs in the works. Avowed just launched, Fable's getting a reboot, The Elder Scrolls 6 is still coming, and IO Interactive's busy with Project Dragon. With so many projects already out there, Microsoft might not see Scalebound as something they really need to invest in.
That being said, Xbox isn't the same company it was back in 2017. Back then, it was still in direct rivalry with PlayStation and Nintendo, concentrating on creating exclusives to bolster its console. Now, Microsoft is bringing more games to platforms like PlayStation and Switch.
However, this change in strategy could work in Scalebound's favor. If Microsoft were to revive the game as a multiplatform release, it could have a better chance of finding a larger audience and recouping development costs.
Even if Xbox is willing to reconsider, a revival won't happen anytime soon. Being a young studio, Clovers has Kamiya concentrating on developing a follow-up to Okami alongside Capcom. Given that the project is still in its early stages, it will likely be years before Clovers is ready to take on something like Scalebound.
If Microsoft were to greenlight the game, it would likely be a long-term project, possibly starting from scratch rather than salvaging anything from the original build. Scalebound might still be an unfulfilled project, but Kamiya's lasting interest shows that the passion for it is alive and well.
It's unclear if Xbox will respond, but at the very least, the conversation about Scalebound has been reignited.