Update: Kotaku has received official word from Microsoft that Scalebound is cancelled. They said “After careful deliberation, Microsoft Studios has come to the decision to end production for “Scalebound.” We’re working hard to deliver an amazing lineup of games to our fans this year, including “Halo Wars 2,” “Crackdown 3,” “State of Decay 2,” “Sea of Thieves” and other great experiences.”
Original Story: Xbox One exclusive Scalebound has been an E3 staple for many years, with Microsoft rolling out the title whenever they needed to wow the crowd. Developed by Platinum Games, the title was stylish, unique, and massive, with action that was unparalleled outside of other Platinum games. Unfortunately, it seems that development on Scalebound has hit a number of roadblocks and now reports are saying that the game has been fully cancelled with development ceasing after four years of work.
The current rumors come from both Kotaku and Eurogamer, with the latter going the furthest in saying the game is fully cancelled. According to them, unnamed sources within the development team have reported that Microsoft has parted ways with Platinum, effectively killing the project.
The cause seems to be worsening strain between the two companies. Scalebound has been in production for a while, and it seems that Platinum has been very unhappy with the conditions surrounding the game. According to the report, top developers had to step away from the project last year, just to deal with the stress that they’d been put under in trying to deliver the game. This caused Scalebound to get behind schedule, which problems spreading and worsening throughout the project.
Scalebound seems dead at the moment, though we don’t have any official word from either Platinum or Microsoft. As it was one of the big Xbox One exclusives for 2017, it’s loss will be hard felt, though Microsoft will surely have other projects to fill its place in the release schedule. Still, for Platinum fans and those looking for more unique action gaming on Xbox One, it’s a tough loss.
There is a chance that the property could be saved and the project finished, but it will surely be a very different game than we would have gotten with Platinum and Microsoft at the helm.
