Fans who have been longing for the canceled action-RPG Scalebound may find solace in Dragonhold, a new multiplayer fantasy game that offers a unique experience of riding and fighting alongside dragons. Developed by the independent studio Exis Interactive, known for its contributions to renowned titles like XCOM: Enemy Unknown, XCOM 2, and BioShock Infinite, Dragonhold aims to captivate players with its thrilling dragon-centered gameplay.
In the early days of the Xbox One generation, the partnership between Xbox and PlatinumGames was met with great excitement among fans. The announcement of Scalebound, a dragon-riding fantasy action-RPG, generated significant anticipation. PlatinumGames, celebrated for titles like Bayonetta, Vanquish, and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, seemed like the ideal candidate to deliver a compelling dragon-centric gaming experience. Unfortunately, the project was canceled by Xbox in early 2017, leading to reported strains in their relationship. Despite recent rumors of PlatinumGames’ Vice President Hideki Kamiya expressing a desire to mend relations with Xbox and potentially revive Scalebound, no official confirmation has been made public.
For players who have yearned to soar through the skies on the back of formidable dragons in an enchanting open-world setting following the disappointment of Scalebound’s cancellation, Dragonhold offers a promising alternative. Exis Interactive’s announcement on their website reveals that Dragonhold will feature both PvP (Player vs. Player) and PvPvE (Player vs. Player vs. Environment) gameplay, emphasizing the ability to mount colossal dragons in combat—a key element that drew players to Scalebound nearly a decade ago. The game will also incorporate ranged and melee on-foot combat mechanics, diverse characters to play as, and a variety of dragons to ride.
Dragonhold will be exclusively available on Steam, offering two distinct multiplayer modes. In the PvPvE Extraction mode, players will team up to confront powerful world bosses and secure valuable loot. Meanwhile, the PvP Supremacy mode will see players engage in aerial battles atop their mighty dragons. Notably, Dragonhold introduces an extraction-based multiplayer experience in a fantasy setting, a departure from the typical military or sci-fi shooters associated with this game mode. Despite the focus on dragon riding, Dragonhold’s on-foot melee combat appears to offer satisfying gameplay, allowing players to seamlessly transition from their dragons to ground-based combat.
It’s important to note that while Dragonhold may attract gamers who were once eager for Scalebound on Xbox One, there is a significant distinction between the two titles. Scalebound was envisioned as a single-player action-RPG with a compelling narrative and a charismatic protagonist. In contrast, Dragonhold is an exclusively online multiplayer game. Time will reveal whether Dragonhold can carve out a niche in the multiplayer gaming landscape as a spiritual successor to the unreleased Xbox-exclusive Scalebound.
