‘Scalebound’ Delayed As Xbox One 2016 Exclusives Set


Microsoft set the 2016 lineup of exclusives for the Xbox One on Monday. The software maker hopes to continue the “greatest games line-up in Xbox history” from 2015 with the likes of Gears of War 4, ReCore, and more. However, Platinum Games’ Scalebound won’t be part of the festivities.

Xbox One owners are looking at 11 Microsoft-published exclusive games for 2016, with six of these coming to Windows 10 as well. A 12th, Ori and the Blind Forest, is being re-released with a Definitive Edition for the console and Windows 10.

Here is the 2016 line-up as shared by Xbox Wire.

  • Gears of War 4(Xbox One) – Multiplayer Beta in Spring 2016/Launch in Fall 2016
  • Quantum Break(Xbox One) – April 5, 2016
  • Halo Wars 2(Xbox One & Windows 10) – Fall 2016
  • Crackdown 3(Xbox One) – Multiplayer in Summer 2016
  • Fable LegendsOpen Beta (Xbox One & Windows 10) – Spring 2016
  • ReCore(Xbox One & Windows 10) – 2016
  • Sea of Thieves(Xbox One & Windows 10) – 2016
  • Gigantic(Xbox One & Windows 10) – 2016
  • Killer Instinct: Season 3(Xbox One & Windows 10) – March 2016
  • Gears of War: Ultimate Edition(Windows 10) – Spring 2016
  • Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition(Xbox One & Windows 10) – Spring 2016
  • Cobalt(Xbox One, Xbox 360 & Steam) – Feb. 2, 2016

The less firm dates for ReCore, Sea of Thieves, and Gigantic point to possibly delays of a full release until 2017. Gigantic in particular was supposed to launch in 2015, but was delayed to 2016 along with Fable Legends. Gigantic is currently in closed beta, and there is no word on when it will enter open beta, although 2016 appears to be the goal.

Meanwhile, not much has been shown of either ReCore or Sea of Thieves. Both games made their debuts at E3 2015, but neither has shown off gameplay yet. They are likely the most at risk of seeing a delay into 2017.

ReCore (Xbox One)
ReCore [Image via Xbox]

Crackdown 3 has perhaps the oddest release schedule of all the games. The multiplayer portion of the title will be released this summer with the campaign coming at some point in the future. This is easily Microsoft’s most ambitious title technologically, as developers Reagent Games and Cloudgine attempt to use “the power of the cloud” for unprecedented levels of real-time destruction.

The one game missing from the list above is Platinum Games’ Scalebound. The developer announced the action-RPG needs some more time to bake.

“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.”

Crackdown 3 (Xbox One)
Crackdown 3 [Image via Xbox]

While Platinum Games has a long list of action games under its belt, Scalebound is the first role-playing game from the studio. Interestingly, the developer is also creating another action-RPG as a PlayStation 4 exclusive. Nier: Automata was announced a year after Scalebound but currently has a 2016 release date.

Speaking of which, Sony is touting 20 exclusives for the PlayStation 4 in 2016, including Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, No Man’s Sky, Horizon Zero Dawn, and more. Again, we’ll have to wait and see if all of these make it to a 2016 release, but the PS4 has the advantage in terms of numbers for now.

What do you think of the Xbox One line-up for 2016 and the Scalebound delay? Sound off in the comments below.

[Image via Platinum Games]

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