Vicarious Visions, a studio best known for its work on major Activision games like Call of Duty, Destiny, and Skylanders, reportedly worked on a new Donkey Kong game. This information comes from reports by DK Vine and a video from DidYouKnowGaming that delves into canceled projects related to Activision properties.
Vicarious Visions previously worked on Skylanders: SuperChargers for Wii U, Wii, and 3DS, including Donkey Kong and Bowser as playable characters. Impressed by their work, Nintendo enlisted Vicarious Visions to develop a 3D Donkey Kong game for the Nintendo Switch, as Retro Studios focused on other projects. We’ve gotten other information from the company, like the canceled Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4 project. We know this thanks to DYKG and DK Vine.
The Donkey Kong project codenamed “Donkey Kong Freedom,” aimed to be an open-world adventure, drawing inspiration from the fast-paced momentum of the Donkey Kong Country games. One unique gameplay element rumored was a vine-grinding mechanic where Donkey Kong would utilize banana peels as makeshift shoes. Series creator Shigeru Miyamoto reportedly collaborated with the development team, offering input on Donkey Kong’s presentation and mechanics.
It sounds like Donkey Kong Country but has better specifications for the Nintendo Switch. Despite the initial excitement, Donkey Kong Freedom was never completed. Activision’s change in focus paused the project around six months into development. With resources redirected to support the Call of Duty series and aid Bungie with Destiny 2, the project was canceled in 2016.
While a new Freedom game isn’t happening, Nintendo will likely add more titles to Donkey Kong’s list. The success of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for the Switch, Donkey Kong’s appearance in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and King K. Rool’s return in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate show Nintendo’s ongoing interest in the beloved gorilla.
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