Xbox recently underwent significant internal restructuring, leading to numerous project cancellations, widespread layoffs, and the closure of at least one studio. Among the titles affected was Everwild, a third-person fantasy game from Rare, which was ultimately scrapped after a turbulent development phase.
Prior to its cancellation, only two atmospheric trailers for Everwild had been released, offering minimal insight into the project. However, newly leaked screenshots from early builds have now emerged, finally providing a glimpse into the game players will never experience.
Reportedly first appearing on MP1st, these images originated from a former Rare artist and are believed to represent the game shortly before its demise. The screenshots highlight Everwild`s distinctive cel-shaded art style and reveal user interface (UI) elements suggesting farming and survival mechanics.
One leaked screenshot showcases an early menu divided into categories for “tools,” “seeds,” and “figments.” “Seeds” and “figments” appear to be consumables, with “figments” possibly being deployable creatures of various types. The “tools” section implies items for regular player use, supporting the idea of a farming element. The game was reportedly conceived as a third-person title incorporating “God game” and survival elements.
Another, more polished menu screenshot features additional tabs for “mosaics” and “plants,” alongside the previously seen “tools,” “figments,” and “seeds.” This image even includes humorous flavor text for an item called a “shrub seed,” playfully teasing the player`s intelligence.
Among the discoveries is an image depicting various environmental settings for Everwild. MP1st mentioned that Rare had planned to leverage player data from their popular pirate game, Sea of Thieves, to influence Everwild`s world design, though specific examples of this strategy were not detailed.
The remaining screenshots provide limited but evocative views of the game`s environments. One shows a player standing before a structure amidst a foggy landscape, while another offers a blurred peek into a forested area. Despite being early builds, these images suggest Everwild was successfully capturing the naturalistic ambiance seen in its promotional cinematics.
Unfortunately, these leaked images are likely the most extensive look we will get at Everwild for a long time. Nevertheless, their emergence allows fans to finally form a more concrete picture of this regrettably canceled title.