Microsoft’s Platinum exclusive Scalebound has been cancelled

Microsoft and Platinum Games had been working for close to four years now on a brand new hack and slash adventure known as Scalebound, but the new year has brought its first bit of bad news. Microsoft has now confirmed that Scalebound is no more, and that Platinum Games has ceased all development on the project as of the end of 2016.

Following reports via both Kotaku and Eurogamer, Microsoft confirmed the cancellation with the following statement:

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.

Although Kotaku broke the news earlier last night, Eurogamer suggested a rift between Platinum and Microsoft had formed late last year. Their sources suggest that the relationship between the two was strained following the Gamescom 2016 showing of Scalebound. Soon after that many senior members on the project were forced to take a month-long break from the game’s strenuous development, and on return were faced with a game that was still in very rough shape, and now behind schedule.

It was soon after that the decision was made to shelve the project, which may not come as a surprise to most who saw the game in action in Microsoft’s more recent press conferences. Despite being helmed by Platinum and Bayonetta director Hideki Kamiya, the game really never made a statement with its gameplay. And even if there might have been significant improvement behind closed doors, we’ll now never know if it was enough to rectify some of the mistakes Platinum Games has been making in recent months.

Platinum Games still have NieR: Automata releasing this March, but for Microsoft their exclusives for 2017 just took a significant knock.Responding on Twitter, Microsoft’s game bos Phil Spencer said canning Scalebound was a difficult decision, but that somehow, it’s cancellation was better for gamers.

@TiC_Podcast Difficult decision, we believe result is better 4 Xbox gamers, still disappointing. Im confident in 17 lineup thats our focus

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) January 9, 2017

Last Updated: January 10, 2017