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

Rare's Everwild: Still in Development, Says Xbox Boss

Over five years since its X019 announcement, Rare's Everwild has faced speculation regarding its status. Repeated absences from Xbox showcases and reboot rumors fueled concerns about its future. However, Xbox head Phil Spencer confirmed in a recent XboxEra interview that the game is still actively under development.

Spencer expressed his excitement for Everwild's eventual release, noting a recent visit to Rare's UK studio to assess the team's progress. He highlighted Everwild, alongside State of Decay and the next Double Fine project, as titles Microsoft is providing ample development time for, despite a busy release schedule enhanced by the Bethesda and Activision Blizzard acquisitions. Spencer emphasized the company's ability to support these teams while maintaining a robust release pipeline, citing upcoming visits to other studios as examples.

Everwild's development has faced challenges, including a denied reboot rumor and the departure of creative director Simon Woodroffe in 2020. Veteran designer Gregg Mayles (Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Pinata, Sea of Thieves) has since taken the director's role.

While initially described as a third-person adventure game with god game elements (based on the July 2020 trailer: "Everwild is a brand new IP from Rare. A unique and unforgettable experience awaits in a natural and magical world."), its current scope may have evolved given its extended development period.

Everwild joins a substantial list of Microsoft's in-development titles, including Perfect Dark, the next Halo installment, Playground's Fable, Bethesda's Elder Scrolls 6, and Activision's annual Call of Duty release. This contrasts with the imminent release of id Software's Doom: The Dark Ages in May.