A while back, Microsoft canceled Platinum Games’ ambitious Xbox One game, Scalebound. The hybrid action/dragon riding game was envisioned as an original title for the platform. Alas, it never happened. And since then, fans have shown resentment over the publisher, insisting the company didn’t give it enough of a chance. However, the Scalebound cancellation was not entirely Microsoft’s fault, according to Platinum Games.
A new interview with Platinum Games head Atsushi Inaba recently posted on Video Games Chronicle explains how the developer isn’t blaming the publisher. In it, he takes about how it “wasn’t easy” to see the ire Microsoft received with Scalebound’s cancellation.
He explained that “both sides failed” and that the game simply “didn’t do all of the things that we needed to do as a developer.” Inaba then directly talked more about Microsoft.
“Watching fans getting angry at Microsoft over the cancellation wasn’t easy for us to watch,” he said. “Because the reality is, when any game in development can’t get released it’s because both sides failed. I think there are areas where we could’ve done better and I’m sure there are areas that Microsoft as a publishing partner wish that they could’ve done better. Because nobody wants a game to be cancelled.”
There have been talks recently about a possible Scalebound revival for Nintendo Switch. But at the moment, nothing is official yet.
Still, some good has come from the game’s cancellation, according to Inaba.
“At the bare minimum, it’s unique for us as a title in so much as we feel that we didn’t do all of the things that we needed to do as a developer,” he said. “There were a lot of painful lessons, but that helped us grow as a studio. We obviously can’t go into details about it, because there are rules of engagement as a developer. We want to make sure that the publisher who gave us a chance to make a game in the first place isn’t treated poorly.”
He also said that the studio may have announced Scalebound a little bit early.
It’s unknown whether Scalebound will return. However, Platinum Games has big plans for the year, including Astral Chain coming to Nintendo Switch this fall. Let’s not forget Bayonetta 3 down the road as well.
