Skip to main content

Why is Microsoft renewing the ‘Scalebound’ trademark?

SCALEBOUND Gameplay Trailer (E3 2016)
Scalebound, the first action role-playing game from famed studio PlatinumGames, was originally planned for release this holiday season before the project was unceremoniously canceled by publisher Microsoft. With PlatinumGames currently working on a variety of projects, we had all but forgotten about the game, but Microsoft recently filed to renew a trademark on the name.

The website Justia listed a full breakdown on the trademark information, and indicates that Microsoft had been granted an extension on May 3. This comes months after the game was canceled, which has us wondering whether or not Phil Spencer and the Xbox team had a change of heart.

Recommended Videos

The game didn’t look particularly impressive at its gameplay demonstrations, with inconsistent framerates and a clunky combat system that was much slower than other PlatinumGames titles like Bayonetta or Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. A cooperative multiplayer mode was also planned, which would allow several players to team up and take on enormous dragons in battles that took place on land and in the air.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Early impressions of the game’s main character Drew were mixed, but Scalebound did seem to be improving at subsequent events, and its colorful environments separated it from the drab grays seen in other Microsoft exclusives — and PlatinumGames’ Nier: Automata released earlier this year to rave reviews.

Even if development on Scalebound resumes, it’s unlikely we’ll be seeing the game anytime soon. Microsoft’s 2017 is fairly light for the remainder of the year, with Crackdown and Sea of Thieves among the notable games. The Forza series is also expected to see staggered releases of the Motorsport and Horizon games, and we fully expect Forza Motorsport 7 to launch alongside Project Scorpio this holiday season.

Are you hoping to play Scalebound one day, or are you interested in Microsoft’s other games? Let us know in the comments!

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (November 22-24)
A cockpit view in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

While November has been a quieter month for Xbox Game Pass, this week saw three games launch on Xbox to the benefit of Game Pass subscribers. One is the latest entry in Microsoft's longest-running video game series, another is the long-awaited sequel to a supernatural horror cult classic, and the last one is a popular fantasy MMO that has finally made its way to Xbox Series X/S with bonuses for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. If you have an Xbox Game Pass subscription, but aren't sure what you should be playing this weekend, these are the three most obvious choices.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – Xbox Games Showcase 2024

Before Microsoft started releasing video game consoles, it made flight simulators. This storied hardcore flying simulation franchise is getting a new entry this year, aptly named Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The latest entry in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series builds upon the strong foundation of its revival in 2020. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 not only sees improved environmental simulation, visuals, and physics, but lots of new content as well. There are now missions where players can participate in aerial firefighting, search and research, and more. While the appeal of simulators like this one is someone niche, those looking for a new flight simulator will adore this game.

Read more
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 struggles to get off the ground after launch
A single propeller plane with Man O'War written on it. It's on a runway in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launched this week on Xbox, PC, and Xbox Game Pass, but players are reporting a lot of performance issues, including long queue times or not being able to play at all, with some players stuck at 97% when loading in. In a video posted Wednesday, Asobo Studios apologized for the launch, explaining that it "underestimated" the demand on its servers.

"We knew the excitement was high for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, but frankly, we completely underestimated how high, and it has really overwhelmed our infrastructure," series head Jorg Neumann said. "We're really sorry, we want to apologize."

Read more
Xbox is finally letting you cloud stream games you own, with some limits
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty's new character. She's in a security uniform leaning against a railing with a fiery cityscape in the background.

Years after Xbox promised that users could stream games they own through the cloud, the company is finally launching that functionality, albeit with some restrictions.

Starting Wednesday, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to use Xbox Cloud Gaming to stream games they already own, even if they're not in the Game Pass catalog. However, they can only stream from a list of 50 supported games right now. You can view the full list on Xbox's website, but it's a good mix of titles, ranging from AAA releases like Cyberpunk 2077, Star Wars Outlaws, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to recent indies like Animal Well, Fear the Spotlight, and Dredge. This applies to any version of the game you own, like if you have Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition.

Read more