Scalebound Revival Could Happen Following Reported Talks Between Xbox And Platinum Games

Active development on Scalebound, a dragon-focused action-RPG title slated to be an Xbox One console exclusive before being canceled in 2017, may continue after talks between Microsoft and developer Platinum Games, according to a new report.

The news comes via Nick 'Shpeshal' Baker, who states on the XboxEra podcast that Microsoft and Platinum Games have held "very, very early" talks about reviving the project more than five years after it was canceled. Baker cites two unnamed sources for the information, stating he didn't believe it until he heard a second source say the exact same thing.

Just because the two companies have held talks doesn't mean a Scalebound revival is set in stone. However, it's no secret that Platinum Games has never quite given up on the game. In an interview with Eurogamer from 2020, Platinum Games' Atsushi Inaba stated that Microsoft technically owns the Scalebound IP, and that though the team would love to come back to it, the decision ultimately would be up to Microsoft.

Platinum Games vice president and chief game designer Hideki Kamiya said in an interview with IGN Japan that he'd like to re-open discussions with Microsoft in regards to Scalebound last year. Calling on Xbox boss Phil Spencer, Kamiya said, "We did a lot of work on it, and it's no use to Microsoft keeping the game in its current form, so we'd like to do something about it," adding "Phil! Let's do it together!"

When asked to elaborate on his comments in a follow-up interview, Kamiya said he was totally serious about reviving Scalebound, but that he couldn't "confirm or deny anything" when asked if Platinum Games was already in talks with Microsoft about reviving the game.

Spencer in 2020 shot down Scalebound revival rumors, clarifying that there is no "ill-will" between Xbox and Platinum Games.

"We talk to those guys: there's no animosity between the teams," Spencer said. "We tried to go do something and it didn't work, and I regret that we were so public about what we tried to go do."

Given how Spencer regrets announcing Scalebound so early in development and its eventual cancellation, any news about a revival of the project could be played close to the vest. For a taste of what Scalebound would have been (or could still be like in the future), Bayonetta 3's demon slave mechanic looks to be heavily inspired by Scalebound. Bayonetta 3 was helmed by Yusuke Miyata, who notably served as the lead designer on Scalebound.