PlatinumGames Wants to Work with Xbox to Bring Scalebound Back - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 08 February 2022 / 2,360 Views
PlatinumGames' president Atsushi Inaba and vice president Hideki Kamiya in an interview with IGN Japan discussed the desire to revisit the cancelled Xbox game, Scalebound, and to bring it back.
"Kamiya has always wanted to do Scalebound," said Inaba via a translation from VideoGamesChronicle. "So we’d like to have a proper discussion with Microsoft."
Kamiya added, "We did a lot of work on it, and it’s no use Microsoft keeping the game in its current form, so we’d like to do something about it (laughs). Phil! Let’s do it together!"
Kamiya in an interview with YouTube channel Cutscenes last November discussed why Scalebound was cancelled.
Scalebound was a project we had teamed up on with Microsoft," said Kamiya at teh time. "They expected good things from us, and we needed to live up to those expectations with the project. Teaming up with Microsoft meant releasing the game on the latest Xbox console. I once again had the desire to make a high-end game. I wanted to go back to something photorealistic.
"While it was a personal wish of mine, I thought it was also a necessary mission for PlatinumGames to improve our graphical ability and get to the next step of modern game creation. So we first decided to go with a universe like that.
"I loved fantasy worlds since I was a child. I’ve always enjoyed worlds with swords, magic, and dragons. When I was a child, I don’t know if people overseas are familiar with these, but I would play Sorcerian, Hydlide, all these fantasy games from the classic PC era that I really enjoyed. I always wanted to make something around that theme. This is how I thought of a world revolving around a young man fighting together with a dragon.
"However, it was a big challenge for PlatinumGames. We were working in an environment we weren’t used to. We were developing on the Unreal engine, we also lacked the necessary know-how to build a game based on online features. The hurdles we had to overcome were very big.
"We weren’t experienced enough and couldn’t get over that wall, leading to what happened in the end. I’m sorry to the players who looked forward to it, and moreover I’m sorry to Microsoft who had placed their trust in us as a business partner. I want to apologize both as a creator and as a member of PlatinumGames."
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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"Microsoft, we want to be purchased."
Ok no MS is not buying them and two Platinum doesn't own Bayonetta. SEGA does. Nintendo owns the rights to 2 and 3 however. Scalebound is owned by MS. PG can't do anything with the IP unless MS says so. Scalebound is a project that began on Wii and a pet project for Kamiya. Kamiya also stated he wants to work with Capcom for a new Okami. Does that mean he wants Capcom to buy PG? HELL NO. They all left Capcom.
No, that's not what I implied. That may be what you inferred, but that's not what I intended. I intended what I said, Bayo would end up never being made again. The reason obviously being that only Platinum would make that game and I doubt Nintendo would allow another first party company make an exclusive for them, nor would Microsoft want to make a game that splits profits with Nintendo. Bayo would be killed because it would be stuck between two companies that don't want to share the glory and money.
Are we sure MS owns Scalebound IP? Even released game from Insomniac wasn't owned by MS, just a deal for not releasing that specific game on another console.
MS owns all the assests to Scalebound, this is why PG cannot continue to make it without MS's permission. So yes MS own the IP.
Gotcha.
lol that's exactly what I thought when I saw that. "please buy me, kk thanks".
Downvote if you must but this is the truth people. Scalebound IP is owned by MS. They are not saying MS to buy them. FFS no. Scalebound started off as a Wii game but ambitions grew larger. MS stepped in to help with it. It's a dream project for Kamiya. Both sides agreed the project didn't work out. Kamiya wants to make it still but remember he also wants to make a new Okami and work with Capcom. He has a lot of projects he wants to do. It's not about gee company X buying us because we want to work with you again. He hates to see that project die. Right now Kamiya is getting another dream project out in Sol Cresta and is the first in a series of arcade games they want. to make. Nearly all of you read something you want to see but not what is there at all. PG has been very clear they want to remain independent.
I hope Platinum knows what they're doing, kinda feels like they have enough balls in the air as is.
Have they improved their capabilities or they want nightmare again?
I feel like their teams are stretched pretty thin as is. They've definitely put out some good games since then, but it would need to be a huge studio-wide project to tackle this again
Well, the hardware improvements in the time since might help?
Not really, their problem was lack of adequate talent to make photorealistic games by their own admission. And doesn't seem like they have improved a lot on it.
Babylons fall will tell us that
I'd love for them to get the game out. As it is. Bayonetta 3 has a lot of Scalebound in it.
A little part of me feels this project isn't dead. Especially if interest like this is out there and MS wants Gamepass content.
All it really needs to be is a Bayonetta or DMC style game.
I want to see this game come to life too, but wasn't it cancelled 2 different times already?
Buy them already Microsoft.
If they make a success in reviving scalebound its going to be a sure thing that Microsoft will buy platinum
They have the power now so less excuses for the poor showing on trailers, but do MS really need Platinum to make this? I think MS have enough studios.
MS doesn't need to work with PG to make it but would be a dick move
But Chartz told me MS was impossible to work with and forced them to completely change their vision and that they’d never work with MS again.
Also I hope this doesn’t happen, game looked like trash.
Essay Pro