Earlier this week, Microsoft officially cancelled Scalebound, Platinum Games’s Xbox One and PC title. According to Eurogamer sources, the pressure of Scalebound’s heavy workload forced several senior members to take a month off. When they returned, production was behind schedule, and issues continued to surround the game’s engine and missed deadlines, so the decision was made to cancel it.
In Platinum’s first statement since the cancellation of Scalebound, President and CEO Kenichi Sato said they’ll strive to continue delivering high-quality games, beginning with NieR: Automata for PlayStation 4 in March:
We’re sorry to say that on January 9, 2017, Microsoft Studios announced the cancellation of Scalebound. We are very disappointed things ended up this way, especially since we know many of our fans were looking forward to this game as much as we were.
Going forward, we will strive to continue delivering high-quality games to you, starting with NieR:Automata in March, and including products like GRANBLUE FANTASY Project Re:Link and LOST ORDER [both only confirmed for Japan so far] in the future.
We will keep working hard to meet your expectations and we look forward to your continued support!
Scalebound was directed by Hideki Kamiya, who also worked on Bayonetta, Viewtiful Joe, Resident Evil 2, and Devil May Cry. In a series of tweets, Kamiya apologized to everyone who was looking forward to Scalebound, but promised that he’ll keep delivering fun games:
As you may have already heard, Scalebound has unfortunately been canceled. I’m very sorry to everyone who was looking forward to this game. Sorry to bring you such bad news at the start of the year. All I can do for you is to promise to keep delivering fun games.
I’ll work extra hard to never have to let you down like this again, so I hope you will keep watching over us in the future too.
And… I took time off for my mental health? …Me!? No way.
Shortly after these tweets, Kamiya added, “I thought I would get lots of savage messages, but in reality I’m getting lots of warm messages. Thank you.”
If you haven’t grabbed it yet, the NieR: Automata demo is live on the PlayStation Store.
[Source: Platinum Games, Eurogamer, Hideki Kamiya (Twitter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)]
