On the heels of the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, footage of several canceled games for the originalNintendo Switchhas been leaked online, including aLEGO Civilizationgame and a newRidge Racertitle. Some of the leaked prototype footage is from a few years ago, well before the Switch 2 was even a thought. Even with all eyes seemingly on thecontroversial reveal of the Switch 2, this news might still disappoint some fans of these franchises looking for new entries in their favorite franchises.
According toVGC,footage of these canceled titles was found on a Nintendo Switch development kit that was sold online, leading to all this leaked footage being revealed at once. A prototype version of a canceledRidge Racergame is circulating online. There is also leaked footage of an unreleased game from Retro Studios titled “Harmony.” Finally, a LEGOCivilizationmenu screen was found on the development kit as well. None of these potential titles saw the light of day on the Switch, but leakerJesse Youngshared supposed footage of the canceledRidge Racerin a post on X.
What We Know About The Canceled Games
They Were In Early Development, But Some Were In A Playable State
The footage for the canceledRidge Racerand the mysterious “Harmony” game are reportedly from 2017, the same year the original Switch launched, but the games were never officially announced.Ridge Racerappears to have been the farthest along, reportedly being developed by Bandai Namco Studios Singapore on Unreal Engine 4. “Harmony” was to feature a fairy character from a third-person perspectivethat could transform into other characters and solve puzzles. The game was being developed by Retro Studios, whichtook over the development ofMetroid Prime 4: Beyondin 2019.
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There is no footage of the alleged LEGOCivilizationgame, with reports from people with access to this Switch development kit saying that the game immediately crashes when attempting to boot it up, though the main menu was found.Sid Meier’s Civilization 7is coming as aSwitch 2 launch title, soit’s possible the development of this Lego version of the game was stopped to focus on bringing the main series to Switch 2.
Our Take: These Canceled Games Could Have Been Great On Switch
These canceled games would have fit perfectly on the Switch.Ridge Racerhas not seen a mainline entry sinceRidge Racer Unboundedin 2012, and it didn’t get a release on the Switch, meaningNintendo fans have been deprived of aRidge Racertitle for a long time. Meanwhile,Sid Meier’s Civilization 6came to the Switch in 2018, so a LEGO version might have had a bigger appeal for the Switch audience, given the hardware’s limitations.
While the cancelation of these games is sure to disappoint some fans, there is a chance that a new entry forRidge Raceris possible for the Switch 2, especially with the originalRidge Racergetting anArcade Archivesrelease on Switch 2. On theCivside,Sid Meier’s Civilization 7is coming to Switch 2. But, more available games are hardly ever a bad thing (if ever), so the cancelation of theseNintendo Switchgames is still a bummer.
