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 an 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 assess the game's progress. He highlighted Rare’s work alongside other projects, mentioning the time afforded to developers at Double Fine and State of Decay to ensure quality. Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda and Activision Blizzard, while adding to their release schedule, hasn't impacted this approach. Spencer emphasized the company’s ability to provide these teams with the necessary development time.
Everwild’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Following a denied reboot rumor and the 2020 departure of creative director Simon Woodroffe, veteran designer Gregg Mayles (known for his work on Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, and Sea of Thieves) stepped in to lead the project.
While initially described as a third-person adventure game with god game elements, the lengthy development period suggests potential changes. The last trailer, released in July 2020, simply described Everwild 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 games, including 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 near term, id Software's Doom: The Dark Ages launches in May.
