Everwild, the mysterious project from Rare announced during Microsoft’s X019 presentation, has been shrouded in speculation and uncertainty over the past five years. Despite repeated absences from Xbox showcases and whispers of reboots, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has reassured fans that the game is still very much in development.

In a recent interview with XboxEra, Spencer expressed his excitement for Everwild, noting that he had visited Rare's UK studio to check on the game's progress. Rare, known for its live service pirate adventure game Sea of Thieves, is making strides with Everwild, according to Spencer. He mentioned, "Yeah, State of Decay is just one of the franchises I love back from the original one, so that one stays on the board. I do think the work that Double Fine’s doing and how Tim [Schafer] kind of solicits feedback from the team. And the other one, I’ll say because I was recently out at Rare. It’s nice to see the team with Everwild and the progress that they’re making."

Spencer emphasized Microsoft's commitment to giving development teams the time they need, even with a robust release schedule bolstered by acquisitions like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. He added, "We can give those teams time," and mentioned his upcoming visit to Vancouver to meet with The Coalition, the Gears of War developer.

Everwild has faced its share of challenges, including a rumored reboot that Microsoft denied and the departure of creative director Simon Woodroffe in 2020. Rare responded by appointing veteran designer Gregg Mayles, known for his work on Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Pinata, and Sea of Thieves, to the director's chair.

As for what Everwild entails, it was initially described as a third-person adventure game with god game elements. However, given the lengthy development period, the game's concept may have evolved. The last trailer, released in July 2020, described Everwild as "a brand new IP from Rare. A unique and unforgettable experience awaits in a natural and magical world."

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