Phil Spencer Updates on Rare's Everwild Development Progress

Rare's Everwild has been a topic of intrigue and speculation since its announcement at Microsoft's X019 presentation over five years ago. Despite its absence from several Xbox showcases and rumors of reboots, the project remains very much alive, according to Xbox head Phil Spencer.

In a recent interview with XboxEra, Spencer expressed his excitement for Everwild, noting that he had visited Rare's UK studio, known for its live service pirate adventure game Sea of Thieves, to check on the game's development. He highlighted Everwild alongside other anticipated titles like State of Decay and the next game from Double Fine, emphasizing Microsoft's commitment to giving these teams the time they need to perfect their projects.

Spencer's visit to Rare underscores the company's confidence in the studio's progress with Everwild. He also mentioned an upcoming trip to Vancouver to meet with The Coalition, developers of the Gears of War series, indicating a busy schedule of high-profile projects.

Everwild has faced its share of challenges, including the departure of creative director Simon Woodroffe in 2020. However, Rare has since appointed veteran designer Gregg Mayles, known for his work on Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Piñata, and Sea of Thieves, to lead the project.

While the exact nature of Everwild remains somewhat mysterious, early reports described it as a third-person adventure game with elements of a god game. The last trailer, released in July 2020, promised "a unique and unforgettable experience" in a "natural and magical world." Given the extended development time, it's possible that the game's concept has evolved.

Microsoft's portfolio of upcoming games is extensive, including the Perfect Dark reboot, the next Halo installment, and Playground's new Fable game. Additionally, Bethesda is working on The Elder Scrolls 6, and Activision is preparing this year's Call of Duty. In the near future, id Software's Doom: The Dark Ages is set to launch in May.

Everwild's journey continues, and with Microsoft's support and Rare's experienced leadership, fans can look forward to discovering what this unique and magical world has in store.