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 fans 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, emphasizing Microsoft's ability to provide development teams with the necessary time, even with a busy release schedule fueled by acquisitions like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. He specifically mentioned the time given to teams working on State of Decay, the next Double Fine project, and Everwild.

The development of Everwild 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) stepped in to fill the director's role.

So, what exactly is Everwild? Early reports described it as a third-person adventure game with god game elements, though this may have evolved during its extended development. The last trailer, released in July 2020, simply described it as “a brand new IP from Rare… a unique and unforgettable experience in a natural and magical world.”

With Microsoft juggling a substantial portfolio of in-development games—including the Perfect Dark reboot, the next Halo title, Playground's new Fable, Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls VI, Activision's annual Call of Duty, and the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages from id Software—Everwild's release date remains unknown.