Vicarious Visions, the studio now known as Blizzard Albany, was reportedly working on a 3D Donkey Kong game at one point, as revealed in recent reports. The studio, known for projects such as Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, had plans for a new Donkey Kong adventure that unfortunately never came to fruition.

The game was envisioned as a 3D experience set on a large open island, focusing on character movement and flow. Players would control Donkey Kong, who was designed to climb walls, swing on vines, and grind on horizontal and sloped vines. An interesting detail included DK wearing banana peels as makeshift shoes while grinding. The studio aimed to give DK a unique look with huge arms and small legs, deviating from the traditional design.

According to reports, the game was in the prototype stage around September 2015 and lasted for over six months. Only a few members of the team were involved in the project, which was codenamed ‘Freedom.’ The prototype featured a jungle-infested cityscape where players would navigate by swinging, grinding, wall running, and bouncing on objects to reach higher areas.

Despite initial interest from Nintendo, the project was ultimately scrapped in the spring of 2016, reportedly due to decisions made by Activision, the parent company of Vicarious Visions. Activision’s shift towards releasing fewer single-player titles and the potential risks associated with the project led to its cancellation. The uncertainty surrounding the game’s future forced the studio to abandon the project and focus on other endeavors.

While the 3D Donkey Kong game may never see the light of day, the concept and vision behind it offer a glimpse into the creative process at Vicarious Visions and the challenges faced by developers in the gaming industry.