Phil Spencer Updates on Rare's Everwild Development

Ever since its announcement at Microsoft's X019 presentation over five years ago, fans have been eagerly awaiting updates on Rare's Everwild. Despite repeated absences from Xbox showcases and swirling rumors of reboots, Xbox head Phil Spencer has reassured fans that the project is still very much alive and progressing.

In a recent interview with XboxEra, Spencer expressed his excitement for several upcoming titles, including Everwild. He mentioned a recent visit to Rare's UK studio, where he had the opportunity to see the development team's ongoing work on Everwild firsthand. Spencer's enthusiasm was evident as he praised the team's efforts and progress.

"Yeah, State of Decay is just one of the franchises I love back from the original one, so that one stays on the board. I do think the work that Double Fine's doing and how Tim [Schafer] kind of solicits feedback from the team. And the other one, I'll say because I was recently out at Rare. It's nice to see the team with Everwild and the progress that they're making," Spencer remarked.

Spencer emphasized Microsoft's commitment to giving developers the time they need to perfect their games, even with a packed release schedule bolstered by the acquisitions of Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. "We can give those teams time," he stated, highlighting upcoming visits to other studios like The Coalition in Vancouver, the developers behind Gears of War.

Everwild has faced its share of challenges, including a rumored reboot that Microsoft has denied and the departure of creative director Simon Woodroffe in 2020. The project has since been steered by veteran designer Gregg Mayles, known for his work on Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, and Sea of Thieves.

As for what Everwild entails, early reports suggested it would be a third-person adventure game with elements reminiscent of god games. However, given the extended development period, the final product may differ significantly. The last trailer, released in July 2020, described Everwild as "a brand new IP from Rare. A unique and unforgettable experience await in a natural and magical world."

Microsoft's development pipeline is bustling with other high-profile projects, including the Perfect Dark reboot, the next installment in the Halo series, and Playground's new Fable game. Meanwhile, Bethesda is working on The Elder Scrolls 6, and Activision is gearing up for this year's Call of Duty. In the near future, id Software's Doom: The Dark Ages is set to launch in May, adding to the anticipation surrounding Microsoft's gaming portfolio.