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 fans the game is still alive.
In an interview with XboxEra, Spencer cited Everwild as one of his most anticipated upcoming titles. He recently visited Rare, the UK studio behind Sea of Thieves, to witness the game's progress firsthand. He highlighted the studio's dedication, stating, “It’s nice to see the team with Everwild and the progress that they’re making.” He also mentioned the time afforded to developers of State of Decay, the next Double Fine game, and Everwild, despite Microsoft's busy release schedule, fueled by acquisitions like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. "We can give those teams time," Spencer confirmed.
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, known for his work on Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, and Sea of Thieves, now leads the project.
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: “Everwild is a brand new IP from Rare. A unique and unforgettable experience awaits in a natural and magical world.”
Microsoft's development pipeline is brimming with projects, including the Perfect Dark reboot, the next Halo installment, Playground's new Fable game, Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls VI, Activision's annual Call of Duty release, and id Software's Doom: The Dark Ages launching in May. Amidst this, Everwild's continued development, albeit quiet, remains a point of interest for many gamers.
