ScaleboundSource: Xbox

What you need to know

  • Xbox exclusive RPG Scalebound was canceled in 2017 after numerous complications in development between studio PlatinumGames and Microsoft.
  • Recently, Scalebound began making headlines after PlatinumGames' president and vice president expressed interest in reviving the title.
  • On Tuesday, vice president Hideki Kamiya clarified that he's "totally serious" and would "love to bring it back."
  • Kamiya declined to confirm or deny if PlatinumGames is actively discussing revisiting Scalebound with Microsoft.

One of the greatest tragedies of the Xbox One-era of console gaming for many fans was the reveal and subsequent cancelation years later of Xbox exclusive RPG Scalebound. The monster-slaying adventure title was being developed by Bayonetta and Nier: Automata creators PlatinumGames in partnership with Microsoft, but failed to come to fruition after years of complicated development ended the project in 2017.

Last week, Scalebound made the rounds in the news once again after PlatinumGames expressed interest in revisiting the game. Both the president, Atsushi Inaba, and vice president, Hideki Kamiya, called upon Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer to reopen discussions about Scalebound, sparking speculation in the video game community.

On Tuesday, Kamiya reaffirmed his interests in an interview with VGC. "Having gotten somewhere with it, as a creator I'd like to see it to the end. And I hear fans saying they really want to play that game, which is too bad, and I want to give that to them when I hear that," Kamiya expressed about Scalebound.

Later, Kamiya stated that he's "totally serious" about the prospect of reviving Scalebound, adding further flame to the dormant IP's story. When asked if any discussions were ongoing between PlatinumGames and Microsoft, Kamiya replied "I can't confirm or deny anything, but we could be talking to Microsoft."

Scalebound was a co-op-focused action-adventure RPG that saw players battle monsters across a magical world with a variety of weapons, abilities, and dragon companions. After the game's cancelation in 2017, Scalebound has been trapped in limbo as part of Microsoft's vast library of dormant IP, while the company sought to bolster its first-party games lineup with acquisitions like Activision Blizzard.

It's not clear if Scalebound would've been a success or considered one of the best Xbox games had it released years ago, and many would-be fans resigned themselves to the fact they'd never be able to find out. PlatinumGames has made it clear it's interested in finishing what it started, but there's still no reason to believe anything is in the works at the moment, or ever will be.