Skip to main content

Microsoft is sending official ‘Scalebound’ videos down the memory hole

hideki kamiya teases next action game scalebound featured alt
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Microsoft is going further than just canceling the dragon buddy romp action game, Scalebound, it’s practically disowning it. Following the announcement that it had canned its production, trailers for the game are now disappearing from Microsoft accounts. While you can still find unofficial versions on other sites and YouTube accounts, Microsoft doesn’t want anything to do with Scalebound.

The announcement that PlatinumGames’ cooperative dragon adventure was canned follows speculation that the game was in trouble, and ongoing rumors that the game had developmental difficulties. Originally shown off as an Xbox One exclusive prior to the console’s release, it now seems unlikely to ever see the light of day.

While there is a chance that PlatinumGames will somehow revive the title — three-plus years of work is hard to just throw out — it clearly won’t be under the Microsoft umbrella.

Finding any official material for the game is actually proving difficult. Polygon’s investigation not only noticed the privatized debut trailer for the game, but that the official website has also been replaced with Microsoft’s statement about the game’s cancellation. While there is still an active Scalebound Twitter account, it hasn’t had a lot of activity as of late and features the same statement as its pinned Tweet.

Fortunately for PlatinumGames, while it might have put a lot of time and energy into Scalebound, it does have some other games on the horizon. Nier: Automata, with its Bayonetta, Final Fantasy, Shadow of the Colossus vibe is coming to PS4 and PC this spring and it has a couple of mobile offerings on the horizon, too.

However Scalebound represented PlatinumGames’ soul Xbox One production title at this time. We have to wonder if part of the reason for the cancellation is down to a soured relationship with Microsoft.

Editors' Recommendations

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is the Evergreen Coordinator for Computing, overseeing a team of writers addressing all the latest how to…
Bill Gates is stepping down from Microsoft’s board
bill gates smart home arizona news  grandpa sweater

Bill Gates is slowly but surely leaving Microsoft for good. The legendary founder stepped down as CEO of the company in 2000, then left his role as chairman of the company in 2014 -- but he still held a position on the board. Now, however, he's leaving that post too -- along with his position on the board of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.

Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Paul Allen, who died in 2018. He'll still be somewhat involved with the company as a "technology adviser," though it's not clear exactly how hands-on that role is, and how much of it is symbolic. He was given the title of technology adviser to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at Nadella's request when Gates stopped serving as chairman of the board. Still, this marks arguably the biggest step back from Microsoft for Gates since he stepped down as CEO.

Read more
Microsoft will shut down Cortana app for Android, iOS in January 2020
cortana is dead hi im feat 123521532

Microsoft will shut down the Android and iOS apps for Cortana on January 31, 2020, as the digital assistant will instead be integrated into Microsoft 365.

In a support article, Microsoft said that content created on Cortana, such as reminders and lists, will no longer be available on the mobile app and on the Microsoft Launcher for Android, which will receive an update to remove Cortana.

Read more
Volgarr the Viking 2 will take you back to your Ghosts ‘n Goblins days
A viking slashes a tree in Volgarr the Viking 2.

Developer Digital Eclipse is working on a surprising project: Volgarr the Viking 2. The 2D retro sequel will launch on August 6 for PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The news is an out of left field reveal. The first Volgarr the Viking game released in 2013 and was made as an ode to 1080s classics like Ghosts 'n Goblins. Despite being a small release, it sold over 1 million copies over the past decade. As revealed during today's Guerrilla Collective stream, the series is coming back with a new sequel by Digital Eclipse, the team behind this year's Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story.

Read more