Scalebound, the canceled Xbox project from Platinum Games, may be revived as Platinum Games is rumored to be starting “early discussions” to bring it back.Scaleboundwas once a highly anticipated Xbox-exclusive release that revolved around adventuring alongside customized AI-driven dragons. Unfortunately, due to what’s been described as issues withScalebound’s photorealistic look and online features, it was canceled in January 2017. Platinum doesn’t necessarily believeScaleboundshould stay canceled, though.
Scaleboundwas first announced during E3 2014, but issues with Platinum’s development of the game grew apparent relatively quickly. It wasn’t untilGamescom 2015 that gameplay ofScaleboundwas eventually shown, but it quickly disappeared again. A late 2016 release date was delayed into 2017, followed by the game’s cancelation. Since Platinum was developingScaleboundfor Xbox, the game’s IP is owned by Microsoft. Resurrecting the game would, as a result, require Microsoft’s approval.
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The report regardingScalebound’s potential revival comes from the XboxEra podcasts' Shpeshal_Nick, a common source for reliable insider information. According to Shpeshal_Nick,Platinum and Microsofthave entered “very early discussions” to bring backScalebound. To be pointedly clear, this is not confirmation of the project moving forward in any way. This is just said to be a conversation regarding the possible resurrection of the game, or something akin to it.
The only additional detail provided about the conversation is that it isn’t clear if the conversation is to restart thedevelopment ofScalebound, the project that Microsoft previously canceled, or to start the game over from the start. It wouldn’t be difficult to imagine Microsoft selling or giving the IP to Platinum, either, but Platinum would likely prefer for Microsoft to fund and publish the project over any other option. GivenScaleboundis currently not moving forward, any option is likely preferable.
It should be noted this isn’t the first it’s been heard that Platinum is interested in bringingScaleboundback. Studio head Atsushi Inaba said in 2019 that Platinum would like to return toScaleboundif given the opportunity. In early 2022, Inaba once again brought up the subject of revivingScalebound.Scalebounddirector Hideki Kamiyaeven went as far as to mention Xbox boss Phil Spencer, saying, “Phil! Let’s do it together!”
That Xbox would listen to a pitch from Platinum isn’t necessarily surprising. It’s an important third-party game developer and a potential partner for future projects. Whether Xbox would ever approve the return ofScaleboundis another matter entirely. Platinum is coming off thewell-received release ofBayonetta 3, though, so perhaps it thinks it has a strong pitch. Time will tell ifScaleboundwill ever get a second chance at life.
