Scalebound Delayed Already, Now Set For 2017

With the delay of Scalebound until next year, Microsoft has lost their first exclusive of the year 2016.

Everyone was quick to label 2015 “The Year of the Delay,” despite 2014 and 2013 receiving those same monikers from the press and gaming fans, alike. Perhaps 2016 will also receive that same label, considering the first delay of the year comes on January 4th, pushing Scalebound into 2017.

The unfortunate news comes from the Platinum Games website, with an update from the Scalebound team that includes Hideki Kamiya, JP Kellams and Atsushi Inaba. (Bold emphasis is mine)

"Development on the game is going well and we’re really happy with how it’s coming together. Scalebound is one of the biggest games PlatinumGames has ever created: an epic adventure filled with exploration and fantasy gameplay, inventive multiplayer, and action-packed battles on an unbelievable scale – all set in a beautiful and evolving world. It’s the game our team has always dreamed of making.In order to deliver on our ambitious vision and ensure that Scalebound lives up to expectations, we will be launching the game in 2017. This will give us the time needed to bring to life all the innovative features and thrilling gameplay experiences that we have planned."

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It’s part of your boilerplate “we apologize for the delay” speech, but it does include some minor tidbits about development. The game has been in development for “several years,” although if you’re talking even minor conceptualization, we’re talking almost a decade. The game will be shown off later this year, probably at either E3 or gamescom.

Platinum Games really needs to nail a title out of the park. So many of their previous games (Bayonetta, The Wonderful 101, The Legend of Korra, Anarchy Reigns) have tanked in terms of sales, despite their various levels of excellence in gameplay. A delay to get it right makes sense, although it does mean that Microsoft has lost their first exclusive of the year. In a first half that sees Sony releasing a bevy of exclusive heavyweights like Uncharted 4, Street Fighter V, Ratchet & Clank, No Man’s Sky and others, losing a title aimed at hardcore character action players hits hard.

h/t Game Informer