Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Issues Update on Rare’s Long in Development Everwild

What happened to Rare's Everwild? Announced over five years ago at Microsoft's X019 presentation, its absence from subsequent Xbox showcases and swirling reboot rumors have fueled speculation about its fate. However, Xbox boss Phil Spencer assures us the game is still alive.

In a recent interview with XboxEra, Spencer confirmed Everwild as one of his highly anticipated upcoming titles. He recently visited Rare, the UK studio behind Sea of Thieves, to witness the game's progress firsthand. He highlighted Everwild alongside State of Decay and the next Double Fine project as games receiving the necessary development time. Spencer emphasized Microsoft's ability to provide this extended development window, even with their packed release schedule, thanks to acquisitions like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard.

He stated that Microsoft is giving these teams the time they need, and cited a future visit to Coalition, the Gears of War developers, as further evidence of this approach.

Everwild's journey has been marked by concerns. These include a denied reboot rumor and the departure of creative director Simon Woodroffe in 2020. However, Rare appointed veteran designer Gregg Mayles (known for his work on Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, and Sea of Thieves) as the new director.

So, what exactly is Everwild? Early reports described it as a third-person adventure game incorporating god game elements. However, given its extended development, this may have evolved. The last trailer (July 2020) simply described it as: "Everwild is a brand new IP from Rare. A unique and unforgettable experience awaits in a natural and magical world."

Microsoft's development pipeline is extensive, including titles like the Perfect Dark reboot, the next Halo installment, Playground's new Fable game, Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls VI, and Activision's annual Call of Duty release. In the nearer term, Doom: The Dark Ages from id Software launches in May.