Imagine a world brimming with vibrant colors, fantastical creatures, and the promise of adventure. That was Everwild, Rare's ambitious project that captured our imaginations back in 2019. But like a shooting star, it vanished before we truly got to experience its brilliance. Now, thanks to a dedicated artist's portfolio, we're getting a heartbreaking glimpse into what could have been.
Remember the initial buzz around Everwild? Rare, the studio behind classics like Banjo-Kazooie and Sea of Thieves, unveiled this new IP with a stunning animated trailer. It showcased lush, vibrant environments and bizarre, beautiful fantasy creatures. A year later, another trailer appeared, depicting player characters, known as Eternals, interacting with and seemingly nurturing these strange beings.
The trailers were gorgeous, leaving many of us eager to understand the core gameplay. But here's where it gets controversial... Many speculated what the core loop would be. Was it an action-adventure game? A cooperative exploration title? A creature-collecting simulator? The ambiguity fueled both excitement and skepticism.
Sadly, the dream of Everwild was cut short. Earlier this year, following significant layoffs at Microsoft, the game was officially cancelled. The news sent ripples of disappointment through the gaming community.
Now, thanks to an artist who worked on the project, we have a collection of screenshots offering a peek behind the curtain. These images, first spotted by mp1st, reportedly represent a version of the game close to its untimely demise.
The screenshots primarily showcase the game's user interface (UI). We can see an inventory menu, allowing players to navigate between categories like "Favourites," "Figments," "Tools," "Mosaics," "Seeds," and "Plants." Figments, in particular, appear to be small, peculiar plant-like creatures. Could these have been central to the gameplay experience?
To the side of the menu, we see an in-game view of a player character standing near a stone circle. The menu categories hint at potential farming or base-building elements. And this is the part most people miss... While these activities might have been present, it remains unknown whether they were core mechanics or simply side activities to enrich the overall experience.
Other screenshots reveal a list of graphical settings, offering insights into the game's visual fidelity. A few additional images provide blurry, foggy glimpses of the game's signature stylized art style.
Admittedly, it's not much to go on. But it's the most substantial look we've had at Everwild beyond those initial, captivating trailers. It does leave you wondering what the final product could have been.
Back in February, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer commented on the “progress” Rare was making on Everwild. "It has been [a while]," he acknowledged. "And we've been able to give those teams time in what they're doing which is good and still have a portfolio like we have... It's like a dream that Matt [Booty] and I have had for a long time, so it's finally good to be there. We can give those teams time."
Unfortunately, that time ran out. It's currently unclear what Rare will be focusing on next, besides their ongoing support for the live-service pirate adventure, Sea of Thieves. Could the assets and ideas developed for Everwild be repurposed for future projects? It's a tantalizing thought.
These Everwild screenshots echo a similar leak surrounding the cancelled Perfect Dark reboot, another promising project that failed to materialize. These events raise questions about the evolving landscape of game development and the challenges studios face in bringing ambitious visions to life.
What do you think about this glimpse into what Everwild could have been? Does the UI suggest a game you would have enjoyed? Do you believe Microsoft should have given Rare more time, or was the cancellation the right decision? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
