The dragon-buddy RPG really isn’t happening, and everyone’s sad about it, so can we just move on?
Scalebound, developed by PlatinumGames and published by Microsoft Studios, was announced at E3 2014 with a flashy cinematic trailer that got everyone pumped to burninate giant monsters with their rad dragon bff. It was all set for a 2016 release, that became a 2017 release, that became a 2017 cancellation, due to failings on the part of both Platinum and Microsoft.
That hasn’t stopped fans from hoping it’s still secretly in development somewhere, but a recent interview with Xbox head Phil Spencer, for IGN’s Unlocked podcast, does its best to dash those hopes for good.
We’re not working on it, I’m not at Platinum today but I’m almost positive they’re not working on it. It’s something we’ve all moved past, and it’s not a moment I see as a high-point for me in my role, having to cancel a game that we had talked about for years.
Spencer also regrets going public with the game before it was actually ready, much like what happened with another Microsoft exclusive; Fable Legends. Although, the co-op action RPG, that let you play as a hero or a villain, actually made it to an open beta before being cancelled in 2016.
I did some learning around Fable Legends, I did some learning around Scalebound, about being public about things before I kind of know that we’ve got a real believable plan in something I’ve felt in my hands.
But, hey, sometimes dreams do come true, you just have to wait 15 years.
Via GameSpot.