More than nine years after Microsoft canceled Scalebound, game director Hideki Kamiya is publicly offering to revive the high-profile action role-playing game if Xbox decides to greenlight the project, according to an interview with Video Games Chronicle (VGC).
Hideki Kamiya Directs Fresh Appeal to Xbox Leadership
According to VGC, Kamiya stated he has not spoken directly to Asha Sharma, the newly appointed CEO of Xbox, regarding a revival of the canceled franchise. However, when asked about potential outreach during a joint interview with Kento Koyama, president and CEO of CLOVERS, Kamiya used the platform to issue a direct public pitch.
Despite the public appeal, there is no official indication from Microsoft—which retains ownership of the intellectual property—that the company is evaluating a return for Scalebound. No formal negotiations or active development agreements currently exist between the parties.
The History and Cancellation of PlatinumGames’ Project
Originally announced by Microsoft during E3 2014, Scalebound was designed as a major Xbox One exclusive developed by PlatinumGames, as detailed by CastleRock and Uagna.
Following a public showing at Gamescom 2015, production suffered from technical and organizational difficulties. Microsoft officially canceled the project in January 2017. In subsequent years, both Kamiya and other PlatinumGames representatives acknowledged that development hurdles contributed to the failure, rather than placing blame solely on Microsoft.
Current Studio Priorities at CLOVERS
According to CastleRock, Kamiya noted that CLOVERS may not immediately possess the internal resources required to manage a production of that scale. The studio has grown to more than 70 employees, but its primary focus remains the development of a new Okami project in collaboration with Capcom.
Kamiya expressed optimism based on the revival of the Okami series, pointing out that long-dormant franchises can return when a team maintains a strong, persistent desire to realize them. Whether Xbox chooses to act on Kamiya’s renewed public appeal remains to be seen, leaving Scalebound as one of the most prominent unrealized projects in recent Microsoft gaming history.
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