After
rumors began circulating from Kotaku early yesterday morning, Microsoft released 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."
Microsoft is actually going so far as to scrub all traces of the game from existence, deleting the Scalebound webpage and removing al trailers from YouTube.
First announced three years ago at E3 2014, it remained at the top of Most Anticipated lists ever since. The cancellation reportedly stems from a troubled relationship between Microsoft and the game's developer, Platinum Games - best known for Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2.
According to Eurogamer, the split was made official just before the end of 2016.
Platinum has actually had a pretty bad run recently, with 2016's much maligned Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard for the Wii U and the critically savaged Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan multiplatform release. With Scalebound's cancellation, the only 2017 game Platinum currently has a confirmed release date for is Nier: Automata for the PS4. If that game proves to be another misstep, how long before the Bayonetta developer closes its doors for good?