Alleged concept art from a cancelled Donkey Kong project at the now-defunct Vicarious Visions studio has surfaced online.
Known informally as ‘Donkey Kong Freedom’, the game was intended to be an open-world experience where players could traverse using vines, emphasizing mobility and fluid movement.
The concept art was reportedly extracted from a hard drive filled with promotional materials from Vicarious Visions.
Vicarious Visions, now known as Blizzard Albany, was under the Activision Blizzard umbrella when the project was cancelled. Activision opted to terminate the project despite collaborative efforts from Nintendo.
The decision to scrap ‘Donkey Kong Freedom’ was influenced by declining sales of the Skylanders franchise, leading Activision to shift focus away from single-player titles.
Currently, the Donkey Kong franchise appears to be regaining momentum, with the upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD set for January 16, 2025.
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Alleged concept art from a cancelled Donkey Kong project at the now-defunct Vicarious Visions studio has surfaced online. Known informally as ‘Donkey Kong Freedom’, the game was intended to be an open-world experience where players could traverse using vines, emphasizing mobility and fluid movement. The concept art was reportedly extracted from a hard drive filled with promotional materials from Vicarious Visions.
Vicarious Visions, now known as Blizzard Albany, was under the Activision Blizzard umbrella when the project was cancelled. Activision opted to terminate the project despite collaborative efforts from Nintendo.
The decision to scrap ‘Donkey Kong Freedom’ was influenced by declining sales of the Skylanders franchise, leading Activision to shift focus away from single-player titles.
Currently, the Donkey Kong franchise appears to be regaining momentum, with the upcoming release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD set for January 16, 2025.
What are your thoughts on this Donkey Kong concept art? Do you feel disappointed that this project never saw the light of day? Let us know in the comments.