Microsoft shouldn’t take [ALL] the blame for Scalebound, says Platinum

“Both sides failed,” studio head says, and ultimately, the game “didn’t do all of the things that we needed to do as a developer”.

[AngainorG7X]

That's very professional, hopefully we'll see a better collaboration between them in the future.

[lxeasy]

Glad to see Platinum step up and admit it wasn't MS fault this game didn't work like so many without information were saying. I hope that one day Platinum and MS can work together again start from scratch and give us Scalebound.

[TopherMan]

"Glad to see Platinum step up and admit it wasn't MS fault this game didn't work like so many without information were saying."

Why are you pretending he exonerated Microsoft from any and all blame? He said:

"Both sides failed"

And I've read plenty of blame levied at Platinum for all this. Inaba is taking the high road here in saying MS took the "brunt" of the blame. Platinum hardly came out of all that unscathed.

[darthv72]

I always believed PG was burdened with too many projects and one of them had to take a back seat while others were finished. I mean scalebound was one they had pitched before even starting work on Nier Automata and yet they were able to finish Nier during the time they were also supposed to work on scalebound. We dont really know how they managed their $$ or teams but ultimately MS paid lots of $$ for something that wasn't completed so instead of keep spending $$... they pulled the plug.

Just look at the list of games they were working on during this time between 2013 (when SB was announced) to 2017 (when SB was canceled). The Wonderful 101, Bayonetta 2, The Legend of Korra, Transformers: Devastation, Star Fox Zero & Star Fox Guard, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan and finally Nier: Automata

Can you blame them for cutting their losses? I'd do the exact same thing if i hired someone to do a job and they kept giving me the run around on when it would be completed. It really depends on the job and who though because some people i know I'd be a bit more understanding but someone I hadn't worked with before.... prob not so much.

[TopherMan]

"The concept for the game was created when Platinum established in 2006 but the studio decided to move to develop Bayonetta instead of making Scalebound. The studio attempt to re-pitch the game again after the completion of Bayonetta, and a prototype was made but it failed to generate any interest, and the studio moved on to develop The Wonderful 101. When the development of The Wonderful 101 was almost finished, the idea for Scalebound was revised, and the game's development officially began in 2013."
https://n4g.com/news/226222...

Scalebound development started in 2006.
The Wonderful 101 was already done when official dev began in 2013. The Legend of Korra was released the following year. Star Fox: Zero and Guard were co-developed with Nintendo. So there is some context behind all that which is left out.

Was Platinum Games spread too thin? We don't know. Did Microsoft change requirements after the project started? We don't know. If we take Inaba's word that "both sides failed" then maybe there is truth in both statements.

That's the thing. We don't really know anything and yet so many are trying to pretend they do.

[darthv72]

@topher, the take away here is that MS had to make the tough decision to cancel it and in doing so PG went silent while watching them take all the heat yet we know for a fact they had a hand in the decision process as well.

the head of Xbox didnt just all of a sudden wake up one morning and say, lets cancel the project. That's not how it works. They have to be motivated to do so and the only other party who could have provided the motivation is PG. So they hold the most responsibility in MS coming to their decision. I dont agree with their decision, but i understand it. sometimes you just have to cut your losses and move on. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

[TopherMan]

No, I agree wholeheartedly that this was a tough call. No way MS just did this flippantly. The question is why and to that we have no answers.

" PG went silent while watching them take all the heat yet we know for a fact they had a hand in the decision process as well. "

Where was it reported that PG had a say in the cancellation? And PG was not "silent". They apologized and expressed their disappointment. Not sure what else you expect them to say.
https://kotaku.com/platinum...

[TheUndertaker85]

@Topher: You’re using one line.Then Inaba states,

““At the bare minimum, it’s unique for us as a title in so much as we feel that we didn’t do all of the things that we needed to do as a developer,” he said. “There were a lot of painful lessons, but that helped us grow as a studio.”

“Inaba conceded that “maybe” the studio announced Scalebound too early. However, he disagreed that its cancellation fuelled Platinum’s decision to move towards self-publishing with its two new in-development game IPs.”

So the developer says they think there was a lot of combinations on themselves that ultimately caused the cancellation.

Then to expand many are jumping on MS for the cancellation yet getting to the nitty gritty why wouldn’t they cancel? The developer is admitting that the product they were working on took a lot of time. That time equates to time that MS then was paying for. Then the developer states clearly that they weren’t doing their job as developers either.

What do people expect MS to do in that position? Keep paying for development of a project that the developers admit they aren’t developing properly?

The ironic thing too is that if it’s also true that this isn’t something that made Platinum want to self publish their interactions with MS wasn’t all that bad either.

The point is individuals can keep doing what you’re doing and attempting to place false blame on MS or they can read the full story and keep context. What we know, now, is that Platinum Games can even admit fault to the situation and state to a certain degree where they were failing.

[Obscure_Observer]

@lxeasy

"Glad to see Platinum step up and admit it wasn't MS fault this game didn't work like so many without information were saying."

This will be the one of the worst day in their lives. All this time blaming Phil Spencer while never ackwologing Platinium´s fault. I´m glad that they finally telling the truth.

[TopherMan]

"The point is individuals can keep doing what you’re doing and attempting to place false blame on MS or they can read the full story and keep context. "

You need to read my posts again. I haven't placed the blame on either side at all. My point has been entirely that we don't know who is to fault. Inaba took some of the blame, sure. Does that mean all the blame rests there? Apparently not when he says "both sides failed". I'm harping on that one line because it is the most relevant. Inaba isn't going to lay out the reasons MS failed. That isn't his place. But Ixeasy is acting like PG just confessed to full responsibility to Scalebound's failure. That is absurd.

"What we know, now, is that Platinum Games can even admit fault to the situation and state to a certain degree where they were failing."

Much of which, Phil Spencer had already acknowledged in 2017.

"During the long time in which Microsoft and PlatinumGames worked together on Scalebound, they have learned a lot about game development from each other. Spencer believes that they’re a very unique studio, and he hopes to work again with Kamiya-san, who plays an important role in the gaming industry.

His opinion is that perhaps the game was announced too early as PlatinumGames strives to create huge games that have no equal among existing titles in things like size, scale of multiplayer and more.

However since the announcement was too early, it created pressure, influenced development, and raised the hurdles on the way to the goal. As a result, this created a situation in which both companies were in doubt on whether the game could offer what the fans wanted. Due to that, it was decided to discontinue Scalebound‘s development."

https://www.dualshockers.co...

Strange that Inaba is taking blame for the early announcement. It was Microsoft's game and announced at Microsoft's conference. Does anyone believe the game was announced without Phil Spencer's consent? More blame to share then.

[beulahland]

@TopherMan "That's the thing. We don't really know anything and yet so many are trying to pretend they do"

We DO know. He is taking half of the blame.

[rainslacker]

I saw plenty of people say it was all P* fault as well. It was always probably something in between.

[TopherMan]

"We DO know. He is taking half of the blame."

LOL. Even if that were accurate, it would mean MS gets the other half.

[-Foxtrot]

Is it though?

“Watching fans getting angry at Microsoft over the cancellation wasn’t easy for us to watch. Because the reality is, when any game in development can’t get released it’s because both sides failed.

I mean he says that but it was cancelled 2 and a half years ago, where was the defence for Microsoft then? They saw everyone go for them and didn't say a thing, just sat back and watched.

Seems more like they've taken time to think it over and now have come to a point where they want more business proposals so are trying to mend things with Microsoft.

Just seems like the whole thing is a 180 in my opinion.

[Concertoine]

Actually, they said theyre working on self-publishing.

To me it seems like MS fault though. They forced in this 4 player coop and a Windows 10 port. It sounds like they overburdened the team.

[coolbeans]

That requires people to take everything he's saying here on bad faith though.

-"I mean he says that but it was cancelled 2 and a half years ago, where was the defence for Microsoft then?"

Perhaps licking their wounds and wanting to move onto other projects? Getting behind-the-scenes access akin to Kotaku's examination of Anthem's development isn't very common (esp. since this is a cancelled project); plus, Kotaku is able to net said sources for--I'd argue--rather shady reasons. Looking back at these shuttered projects when they're safely in the rearview mirror is often enough reason in it of itself.

-"Just seems like the whole thing is a 180 in my opinion."

In order for that to be the case, Platinum would've had to have said this in the past: "MS should take/wholly take the blame for Scalebound. They didn't fulfill their obligations as a publisher." Just saying IMO in that context looks more like an escape hatch for you if called out. Present some type of proof of where you're getting this suspicion.

[DaDrunkenJester]

"I mean he says that but it was cancelled 2 and a half years ago, where was the defence for Microsoft then? They saw everyone go for them and didn't say a thing, just sat back and watched."

Not exactly, they both came out and admitted things failed and there was no hard feelings between each other. Kamiya even stated that the game was very ambitious and it caused him to be too stressed out and such. No one blamed each other. It was just the fanboys who automatically assumed MS pushed them too hard with too many things.

[-Foxtrot]

@coolbeans

" Platinum would've had to have said this in the past: "MS should take/wholly take the blame for Scalebound"

Isn't watching everyone from your everyday gamer to professional gaming journalists rip Microsoft apart just as bad. Not even a "hey lets slow down guys, lets not all go for Microsoft, come on". You even had rumours and so called sources saying things like this

https://www.gamerevolution....

So when you have ALL this stuff coming out and literally painting Microsoft as the big bad, making out it was indeed their fault you just go silent and don't say anything? It's like seeing someone get attacked, have the chance of saying something to put things right, to punish the guilty and not say a thing until 2 years later when the whole thing is over and done with.

Even their PR statement was barebones and to the point? Any defence to Microsoft here?

https://www.platinumgames.c...

...nope

So coming out 2 and a half years later and then say something is, in my opinion, strange and completely out of the blue

[mrmikew2018]

That's a good point @Foxtrot.

I was thinking to myself that they should've came out with this statement much sooner, because MS sure did take a beating on announcing this cancellation.

I'm just wondering why now?

[nyu1]

"where was the defence for Microsoft then?"

What do you mean ? You say this as if developers always immediately come out and clarify these matters like that.

Most of the time, we don't know the details of it. It's like with Anthem and EA. I'm sure EA was to blame much of the time, but there were probably plenty of times when the studio was more to blame than them. It's not like we would actually know about that. Most of us just jump on the prevailing opinion bandwagon at the time. In the case of Anthem, when the details did come out, we see that the studio is as much to blame if not much more so than EA.

[Saranya]

@Concertoine MS forced PG to made 4 players coop? No, it's on your head.

[beulahland]

@Concertoine the guy just said that both are to blame and you are still insisting on "to me it seems like MS fault though". Dude, you are sick.

[beulahland]

I fully agree with you on this. I see lots of people replying "much respect to this guy for doing this". What, two years later, after all that silence while everyone was blaming mostly the other side? No, I can't respect that.

[coolbeans]

@Foxtrot-

-"So when you have ALL this stuff coming out and literally painting Microsoft as the big bad, making out it was indeed their fault you just go silent and don't say anything?"

But even in that link you posted it brings up how many were quick to pass the blame to Platinum as well (at least back then). So, it's kinda goes both ways b/c I didn't see MS or employees hopping out to say "stop throwing crap Plat's way" either. MS's defense, and Phil's, were quite basic as well. I don't thinks it's indicative of questionable or inconsistent character to come out and give a measured response to this type of fiasco long after the dust has settled. Oftentimes it's for the best to hold off on making criticisms against your own team (and publisher too) until everyone has been able to gather themselves mentally and move on.

[Fluttershy77]

Yes. Very professional... It's the right thing to say when you are asked... Also, we all know: Not true.

[MadLad]

Oh.
Do we all know that?

Please; enlighten us with your objective knowledge on the topic.

[Fluttershy77]

@shaggy2303 I heard similar things already pal, but coming from the Sony fans. In the end both sides are pretty much alike, don't you think?
I don't care. It doesn't matter, because I'm still respectfully holding and expressing my opinions and there's nothing you can do about it.

[Imalwaysright]

Yes, you're being extremely respectful. So respectful that you're calling this guy, that just happens to have witnessed everything that happened, a liar. As for what I could do is ask you for proof but someone else already did it and you chose to pretend that it didn't happen due to obvious reasons.

Random anonymous (respectful) person on the internet or the head of Platinum Games? Who sould I believe in?

[Fluttershy77]

@Imalwaysright I don't think of him as a liar. He's being professional, doing PR, and giving the politically correct answer "it was a 50/50 fault"... you don't say much... everyone's happy.
Also I feel he would like to move on from that mess. It's been, how many, 3 years?
He doesn't want to piss off a major publisher, and I think that's great for him and the studio but we need to read beyond that.
Of course there are always faults in both sides when a deal like this fall, that's obvious... but it's also true, that one of the sides is usually "faultier" than the other one.
I suspect it was MS fault.
Fast looking at the list of their games, Platinum didn't have any issues working with Sony, Nintendo, Sega, Konami, Square and Activision. Even after a failure like their Star Fox attempt, they kept on working with Nintendo and are about to release another exclusive for them.
It's not the first time with MS either, like, next we gonna hear that Fable's cancellation was a 50/50 fault, right?
And probably you can entirely blame Rare for Rare's destruction.

[giovanealex]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

You are so funny!

[gamer7804]

agreed, I hope they work on a new project, I enjoy almost every game they make that isn't a movie/tv tie-in game.

[greyrolando]

for sure

[gangsta_red]

Good to hear something about this, especially when we did read from fans that it was MS's fault. Even heard the excuse that MS forced them to add multiplayer which is why the game failed.

[AspiringProGenji]

Adding multiplayer may be one reason why it failed which was crearly influenced by MS. Platinum games are all SP. the didn’t even say before the game was gonna have MP until that trailer that they showed MP that felt so out of place

[Spurg]

Please provide your sources I would love to read them

[AspiringProGenji]

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[lxeasy]

@aspring the mp was Platinums idea not ms. stop making stuff up. you give us gamers a bad look. always talking crap without doing research.

[Atom666]

I always thought that the coop demo looked a whole lot better than the SP demo they showed. What made it feel out of place?

[Spurg]

Wow...I didn't know I had to spell it out to you but let me explain what I was asking.
You said adding multiplayer was influenced by MS. Which published article, you read that clearly states that MS asked Platinum to add CO OP.
Not asking for the YouTube clip of CO OP but the article that backs what you are saying. You also have to back the statement you made about how the co op mode the responsible for Scale bounds cancellation.
Or you could just save yourself the trouble and say you were just speculating.

[AspiringProGenji]

Wow I Didn’t know I had to read it out to you. I said “may be” (possibility). I am not saying it’s a fact, and considering MS aleays favor MP titles more it is a strong possibility

[gangsta_red]

@progenji

So waitaminute...you say...

"I am mot saying it’s a fact..."

But in your op you said...

"Adding multiplayer may be one reason why it failed which was crearly influenced by MS."

"Clearly influenced"...please provide that fact that MS clearly influenced Platinum to include MP.

"Platinum games are all SP. "

Not true at all, Star Fox Zero, Anarchy Reigns, The Wonderful 101 are just a couple of MP games Platinum made.

[TheUndertaker85]

...Why did you bother to add a “may be” statement to a story that contains details from the developer, not publisher where the content illustrates that Inaba believes that the development company he is a part of holds lots of fault? While avoiding listing MS faults?

Inaba isn’t saying that may be MS had fault. He’s literally saying and listing ways Platinum was at fault for a lot. Even down to how they were developing the game over a long period of time but they weren’t really developing the way they should have been either.

Ironically also one of your replies literally states you don’t know your point to be factual nor was it ever said by Platinum Games or Inaba in this interview. So you’d seem to be saying things just to say while arguing why MS is responsible.

[Germaximus]

I have no doubt that adding multiplayer forced issues and delays that shouldn't have been there.

[gangsta_red]

Why? The original reveal trailer teased multiplayer. Why all of a sudden, in an industry that thrives on multiplayer would multiplayer all of a sudden be a problem?

[Germaximus]

No, the original trailer did not have co-op. It was originally going to be single-player.

[gangsta_red]

At the end of the original trailer a group of Dragon riders come swarming in, this implied that friends could help fight enemies/bosses, which means multiplayer.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[Atom666]

Lol. Seriously confused with this. The original 2014 trailer absolutely hinted at MP.

[NarutoFox]

I Blame Microsoft as well

[gangsta_red]

You would blame Microsoft for the nine tailed fox destroying the leaf village

[beulahland]

@NarutoFox "I Blame Microsoft"

Noooo. What a surprise!

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Microsoft are the nine tails fox lol

[ghostrider32]

When Neiji died, you probably blamed Microsoft. You probably blamed Microsoft for the death of Setoru Iwata.

[Gaming4Life1981]

Im glad that platinum cleared this up but as in the comments on this article, people still deny that it was all MS fault. The hate is real with MS and the xbox. Its just stupid at this point with all the hate for MS but these haters must be new gamers. When I was growing up back in the atari days, everyone just loved games. i always had all systems and all games.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

It's a 50/50. Microsoft should of left it alone let the dev do the product what they want it, but platinum should of done using the money better.

[Teflon02]

After Nier, I believe that's the reason they have issues with all the publishers they use. They clearly suck at money management

[Donnie81]

It’s not Microsoft’s fault at all. I’m sure the checks they were writing cleared. Platinum just didn’t do their job and got fired. I bet this was really messy behind closed doors

[Kaze24]

Funny how everyone kept blaming M$, they kept shoving money to the studio yet very little results, I don't blame M$ at all, anyone in their position would of done the same..

[bluefox755]

Nice to see Platinum being diplomatic, but let's be honest, it probably was mostly MS's fault. The ruin everything they touch.

[Wikkid666]

I guess that's why they are the most valuable company in the world.

[Sonyslave3]

I know right

[jznrpg]

Take out anything not to do with gaming and where are they? Gamers care about gaming

[timotim]

@Jznrpg

But wait a minute...Blue said "EVERYTHING they touch", did he not? And even in gaming, Microsoft is making more money with Xbox than they ever have in the past...how is that ruining???

He was just making a fanboy comment...as he typically does...and you tried to follow up...as you typically do.

[Xavi4K]

can you explain to me in details how is that mostly Microsoft fault??

it's like you are hiring a worker to fix your car you pay him 300$ to fix your car and instead of doing that he spend it on beer won't you fire him?

try to take your fanboy glasses off for once before you write a comment.

[beulahland]

He can't. He is just a stubborn kid.

[NeoGamer232]

Ya, because you were there and you know exactly everything that happened.

[beulahland]

@bluefox755 nice to see that even when the head of the company comes publicly the take part of the blame, you still insist on the opposite.

[Spurg]

If we are going to speculate let's be a bit more real.
Kamiya wanted to make an open world game. I don't know how this happened but Ms in 2013 decided to partner with Kamiya to make Scalebound and subsequently announced it at E3 2014.

-At E3 2014 Ms partnered with Kamiya to make his dream project, Scalebound
-At 2015 Gamescom gameplay was revealed
-At E3 2016 coop was revealed
-January 2017, the project was canceled

Lets now look at platinum's release record past the announcement of Scalebound
2014-Bayonetta(AAA) and Legend of Korra(AA)
2015-Transformers:Devastation (AA)
2016-Starfox: zero(AA), Starfox: Guard(AA), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan(AA)
2017-Neir: Automata(AAA)

Now we need to remember something, Platinum is a 200 man studio. And that 200 man team after Bayonetta 2 they worked on 5 AA, 1 AAA(Nier automata) and suppose to also work on 1 AAA(Scalebound) which was announced before Nier: Automata.

2014-Nier Automata begins production and around the same time as Scalebound.
2015-Nier Automata is revealed and Scalebound misses E3 2015 but shows up at Gamescom and given 2016 release date. Nier automata gameplay reveal at Paris games week later the same year.
2016-Nier Automata's gameplay is shown for the second time and is given a November 2016 release date. Scalebound's Co op is revealed and given a 2017 release date after Nier was suppose to get released. (Platinium and Ms stopped production on Scalebound before the end of 2016)
2017-In January, Scalbound is officially canceled and Nier automata get a firm release date for February 2017.

Platinum's 200 man team was working on 2 AAA games and 5 AA games between 2014 - early 2017. And it's clear that they didn't have the manpower to work on 2 AAA games and work on the smaller AA games at the same time. So the heads at Platinum prioritized Nier Automata's production over Scalebound. You can clearly see how Nier was taking over and was being showcased more than Scalbound despite the latter being announced beforehand. The sequence of delay of Scalebound is a clear indication that the head at Platinium was purposefully prioritized Square Enix's Nier Automata. Platinium split the team in a way that made sure they were working on the 5 AA games and 1 AAA game with one poor game (Scalebound) getting minimal manpower working on it. It just doesn't make sense that Nier: Automata got released despite being announced a year later and was scheduled to release at the same time as Scalebound, that is just an impossible task to achieve.

Obviously, this is speculation but this conclusion was deduced from a clear timeline of the event, not something that is pulled out of thin air like, "Ms forcing Platinum to include Co-op".

[rob-GP]

" You can clearly see how Nier was taking over and was being showcased more than Scalbound despite the latter being announced beforehand." - MS were the publishers, if there was any lack of being showcased, it was down to MS. Nobody knows how far the game had got before it was pulled. Gameplay footage shown was choppy and clearly had framerate issues on the Xbox One as if the game was too ambitious for the system.

The speculation and rumours about MS demanding this and that were all backed up by the information that they do that to all their studios and companies developing their IPs. The logical deduction is that they demanded parts get added, like the co-op, which delayed the development and then caused instability with the framerate and performance. It might even be that they couldn't optimise it and removing the co-op would have been against MS's vision, as they love putting out multiplayer games, and more time consuming whilst creating more fees for wages - so MS just cancelled it thinking it was no longer viable.

Personally, I think MS asked for changes and it caused a domino effect, I don't believe one product was put above the other, Neir had a clear image and goal and the final product delivered with no major alterations to the core gameplay.

[DuckOnQuack35]

"The speculation and rumours about MS demanding this and that were all backed up by the information that they do that to all their studios and companies developing their IPs."

Where exactly did this information come from? Or is it more speculation?

[rob-GP]

@duck - Nah, there have been a number of articles that pop up from time to time which indicates that MS likes to Micromanage the studios working for them, it's why a few developers won't work directly with them and why a lot of indie and Japanese devs didn't partner with them at the beginning of the generation. Obv, things have changed since then as they are now supposedly more relaxed (as we'll see with the next wave of games from their newly bought-out studios). But at the beginning of the generation, it was well known that they had the final say in all game dev direction and didn't give the studios too much creative freedom.

[TopherMan]

I don't see how any of that speculation that has been copied and paste numerous times across reddit and other forums is any more "real" than any other bogus theories that folks have dreamed up.

"Both sides failed"

Seems pretty clear.

[darthv72]

Yes both sides failed but lets put it into proper perspective. PG failed to manage their time and $$ and spread themselves to thin to properly work on this as well as other games at the same time. They failed to deliver on the promise of a working build for MS to properly showcase at various events.

MS failed to keep tabs on the work in progress to better understand where this project stood in line with others PG was working on. So yes... both sides failed but only PG failed harder because their failure to deliver forced MS's hand at canceling the project all together. When actions (or lack thereof) lead to consequences.

[Concertoine]

Platinum is just an insanely prolific studio. I dont think they sign on for anything they cant handle. Right now they have Astral Chain, Bayonetta 2, and an unannounced purportedly ambitious IP. Theyre all 3 AAA games, and thats just what we know.

I dont think the coop theory is far fetched - Platinum’s only online MP game was Anarchy Reigns in 2012. Scalebound never looked like a game that would have coop - Kamiya never puts coop in his games. The game wasnt even running well on original hardware as a SP game. I think youd agree that coop probably wasnt part of the plan from the get-go - they wouldve said something earlier. MS of course made comments around this time about how MP games are more popular and lucrative. Why would P* games, who rarely makes MP, put coop in a game that was already troubled in development?

At the same time, MS forced all their studios to make Windows 10 ports. Sea of Thieves, Crackdown, Recore, and Quantum Break would be delayed. Recore and SoT specifically were buggy and incomplete games.

[Tigerblud]

I was going to buy a Xbox just for this game.

[Pickledpepper]

Let me get this straight, you was going to buy an Xbox based on the little trailers and information given about scalebound, so would you have brought a console based on how good anthem looked if it were a specific console exclusive?
No wonder these company's push out such garbage, they know people like you will buy their trash.
@tigerblud

[Germaximus]

Much respect for this guy. I wanted Scalebound so bad. I suppose I can hate Microsoft a tiny bit less. =P

[Rude-ro]

1000% Microsoft fault/issue

If they are in gaming, they should be a gaming company so therefore issues like this are not their only thing to go off of.

Microsoft has been in console gaming for 16+ years... if their issue is an outside developer and someone sugar coats it.. that is an issue far worse than anything else.

[MellauxGMNG]

Its coming from the mouth of PLATINUM GAMES THEMSELVES and you still want to pin it all on Microsoft lol

[giovanealex]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHA!!!!

[Teflon02]

I always blame platinum if a problem happens involving platinum. Why? Because they've shown themselves to be big babies that want to be treated like kids. Nier Automata has a horrible state despite being a fantastic game because Platinum thinks Square should be paying to complete the job they didn't on release despite being brought in and paid to make the game. The game never got updates to fix it because the dev's platinum bailed. If you look at every game they release they're complaining about the publishers etc. So good on them fif growing up because they make amazing games. But have bad attitudes

[Destiny1080]

the game ran over budget and needed another 7 million to get finished

phil wasn't prepared to pay and cancelled the game

phil announced that it was better for xbox gamers that it was cancelled

[neomahi]

Well, they are, sucks to be them. Might as well finish the game to save grace.

[timotim]

I feel like Platinum should have come out earlier with this news. Better late than never though. In the end, Microsoft owns the IP, so we may see it one day...

[TopherMan]

If "both sides failed" then MS could have said that any time as well.

[timotim]

Microsoft didn't make these comments though...Platinum did...nor did Platinum say anything around the time that the deal fell through and Microsoft canceled the game. It is Platinum's opinion that both sides failed. We got Microsoft's opinion already...good to finally hear from Platinum...

[TopherMan]

"nor did Platinum say anything around the time that the deal fell through and Microsoft canceled the game."

Incorrect.
https://kotaku.com/platinum...

[timotim]

No Sir. That's a general apology to their fans...that reply gave us no insight on their take on the situation and if they shared any of the blame for its cancelation...two totally different things.

[TopherMan]

"that reply gave us no insight on their take on the situation and if they shared any of the blame for its cancelation...two totally different things."

Neither did Microsoft. At the time of the cancellation, MS only apologized as well. It wasn't until June 2017 that MS gave any hint of a reason why it happened. And it was largely the same stuff we are getting now and yet, here we are with folks lining up to point fingers as if some revelations were just revealed "finally".

https://www.dualshockers.co...

[timotim]

WOW...so this goes all the way back to my original post...its FINALLY nice to hear something from Platinum Games on the matter, even though I feel like they should have come out much earlier with this news haha.

Please tell me again why we just went through all that, just to end up where I started haha??? Regardless if it was a revelation or not...they never officially addressed the cancelation of the game with insight on how they viewed it before, until now. Only apologized for it being canceled. If you can't understand the difference, then I don't know what to tell you. Microsoft addressed it years ago...

[TopherMan]

You are confused. First you said PG said "nothing" at the time of the cancellation, which was false. Then you made it about the "insight" which was nothing new, but damn it, PG should have said it anyway?

Yeah, you are right. Discussing this with you was pointless.

[timotim]

Not confused at all brother. I said they said nothing on the cancelation in terms of how they viewed it. I remember reading that very open letter to fans that you posted here today and thinking..."yeah, but that doesn't really address how you felt about Microsoft, nor what you could/should have done to keep it alive." You simply didn't understand and jumped to conclusions. Saying something was never my point...speaking on who's fault it could have been and if they share any of the blame in their own eyes was the point on my post. Now that you understand, maybe you can view my original post in a better light...

[beulahland]

@TopherMan try harder, kid.

[Kaze24]

I think it's way late for them to say anything about what happened, the damage is done since everyone already blamed M$ for canceling the game that was half arsed..

[TheHan]

Just cause of one failed project doesn’t mean it hurts the relationship between the two. Hopefully they can work together again and possible create one of the best games of the year.

[EricLane]

A guy wearing Beats By Dre headphones while riding a dragon? One of the stupidest things I have seen.

[3-4-5]

Platinum mostly likely stretched themselves too thin, when they should have focused more on Scalebound with a potentially larger team.

Sometimes ideas don't work out. I'm glad they admitted they played a role in that failure.

[HighPlayer28]

This is a great look for Microsoft going into next gen now that this issue has finally come out for the game industry to see concerning the Scalebound situation. 👍 job PG for giving gamers the insight on the real issues with that ip when so many put the blame on Spencer without proof.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Still Spencer has fault within in this

[AK91]

Does this mean their new IP might be a Xbox exclusive.

[Teflon02]

they're making a PS and Ninty exclusive so why not?

[Thundercat77]

Both are to blame. Microsoft is no angel.

[Imortus_san]

it's funny I don't see this kind of article about any of those PS4 games that never came to be.

[BehindTheRows]

Name the big games Sony cancelled.

[Imortus_san]

What you don't know!

PS3
Eight Days
Agent
The Agency

PS4
Silent hills
Deep Down
Wild

All those and some more are deep down.

[Teflon02]

It's Platinum that's why. They always have Dev issues pertaining the Publishers not wanting to be a money sink. Hell that's why Beyonetta 2 wasn't done by SEGA. The game didn't make the money to warrant the amount platinum wanted if I remember correctly

[BehindTheRows]

Um, Deep Down and WiLD are still in development (even though the former is a Capcom property), and Silent Hills was 100% on Konami.

http://www.pushsquare.com/n...

https://www.playstationlife...

Not sure why you're bringing PS3 games in here (you said PS4, and on top of that, there were 360 games cancelled as well, making this a totally moot point).

I'm afraid you're going to have to try again. Name the big games Sony cancelled.

[Imortus_san]

They are all PS4 exclusives, and none as been released, you are the one that should try not be hypocrite.

[BehindTheRows]

Ah, so you have nothing but hot air. Got it. For the record, we’re talking about game cancellations. Konami cancelled Silent Hills. Nothing to do with Sony, unlike Scalebound for Microsoft . Thus, there is no hypocrisy. You are just unable to provide a correlation to games in current production vs fully cancelled projects.

Oh well. :)

[Imortus_san]

Here are some Sony cancelled games:

Gnomageddon from Sony San Diego
https://www.eurogamer.net/a...

Sony Santa Monica’s canceled game mixes ‘Horizon Zero Dawn,’ ‘No Man’s Sky’
https://www.digitaltrends.c...

Take your head out of your a$$.

[BehindTheRows]

"Gnomageddon was a free-to-play online action game"

Not a big game. Also, that Sony Monica project was, quite literally, in pre-production and hardly anyone could tell you about it. Completely at odds with a project like Scalebound. So, still no big games cancelled by Sony.

Also, curb the insults. If I'm so "wrong", you shouldn't have any need to take it there. :P

[Mystogan]

People thought I was crazy when I said platinum was at fault.

[Teflon02]

I literally always know they're at fault. When they cried about Square not wanting to pay them to update and fix a game they were already paid to make properly. I knew Scalebound was all them. MS is one of the biggest companies in the world. They got the money but they're not dumb with money. It was pretty obvious why MS had to pull the plug.