Platinum Games’ upcoming PC and Xbox One action game Scalebound is apparently in danger of being cancelled, according to a report from Kotaku.
Both Platinum and Microsoft have been mostly silent on the game since its delay into 2017 last January, but Kotaku reports that the game has been deemed in “development hell,” and may not see the light of day at all. When asked for a comment on the rumors, a Microsoft representative stated that the company would “have more to share on ‘Scalebound’ soon.”
Kotaku’s report doesn’t have much in the way of specifics as to why a cancellation is possible, but Scalebound has been conspicuously absent from much of Microsoft’s recent marketing since its delay.
Scalebound was originally announced as an Xbox One exclusive during Microsoft’s E3 2014 press conference, and then later shown in motion the following year at Gamescom 2015. In 2016 it was confirmed a Windows 10 version of the game was also in development, but news on it has been scarce since.
Outside of Scalebound, Platinum Games is also well-known for games like the Bayonetta series, The Wonderful 101, and the upcoming Nier: Automata, which will come to PC and PlayStation 4 in March. In recent years, Platinum has taken on several licensed games, including The Legend of Korra, Transformers: Devastation, and most recently Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan. The studio has also been candid about its appreciation for Nintendo, leading to several partnerships with the company like Bayonetta 2’s Wii U exclusivity, and developing last year’s Star Fox Zero.
Should Platinum and Microsoft make the decision to cease development of Scalebound, Xbox One and Windows 10 players will still have some exclusives left to look forward to in 2017, with Crackdown 3, Halo Wars 2, and Sea of Thieves all slated to launch in the next calendar year. For more on those, check out CGM’s previews of Halo Wars 2 and Sea of Thieves.
Update 1: Microsoft has confirmed to Kotaku that Scalbound has been canceled:
“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.”