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 project is alive and well.

In a recent interview with XboxEra, Spencer expressed his excitement for Everwild, highlighting a recent visit to Rare's UK studio (also home to Sea of Thieves) to witness the game's progress firsthand. He mentioned Everwild alongside State of Decay and the next Double Fine project as titles he's particularly enthusiastic about, emphasizing the studio's progress.

Spencer credited Microsoft's ability to provide development teams with ample time, even amidst a busy release schedule fueled by acquisitions like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. He cited this approach as key to allowing studios like Rare, Double Fine, and the Coalition (developers of Gears of War) to flourish.

Everwild's journey has been marked by concerns stemming from reboot rumors (which Microsoft denies) and the 2020 departure of creative director Simon Woodroffe. However, Rare appointed veteran designer Gregg Mayles (known for his work on Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, and Sea of Thieves) to fill the director's role.

While early reports described Everwild as a third-person adventure game with god game elements, its prolonged development suggests potential shifts in its design. The last trailer, released in July 2020, simply described it as "a brand new IP from Rare. A unique and unforgettable experience awaits in a natural and magical world."

Everwild joins a crowded pipeline of Microsoft's in-development titles, including the Perfect Dark reboot, the next Halo installment, Playground Games' new Fable, Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls VI, and Activision's annual Call of Duty release. In the nearer term, id Software's Doom: The Dark Ages is slated for a May launch.