A new series of leaks reveals images and even gameplay footage from a canceled D&D game once in development by Hidden Path.
Wizards of the Coast is still spinning up its video game development engines – likely something we’ll see unfold over the next decade or so (assuming nothing collapses in on itself). But for as many games WotC has successfully seen launch, there are plenty more that have been canceled. Like at the beginning of 2023, when WotC “scaled back its ambitions” cancelling at least 5 different games, and laying off some 1,100 employees. This was not two years after announcing that video games were the future of D&D back in 2021. It’s been a roller-coaster ride, is what I’m saying.
And today, thanks to a series of high-quality leaks from someone claiming to be a former Hidden Path developer, we got a look at one of the D&D video games that might once have been. There are screenshots and even video footage of gameplay, showing a 3rd-person, action-style game.
Speculation abounds as to what this might have looked like and how far along in development the game was. But the whole thing is an interesting look into how the D&D sausage is made.
D&D Video Game Leaks Reveal A 3rd-Person Playground
For some background: Hidden Path Entertainment, whom you might know as the developers of CS: GO, initially announced back in 2021 that the studio was working on a 3rd-person open world RPG set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Alongside that announcement, the reveal of Whitney “Strix” Beltran as narrative designer on the project. Beltran was also involved on the 2021 release of Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft.
But then, two years later, after announcing that video games were the future of WotC, the studio made it’s big “scaling back ambitions” announcement. And despite insistence on social media that the project hadn’t been cancelled, in 2024, the studio’s founder and creative director revealed that Hidden Path was laying off 44 from its team. Additionally, Hidden Path had been seeking funding for some time for “an exciting RPG”.
Now, after more than a year, it seems like some of the work will finally see the light of day, even the game itself will never be finished. The leaks were initially reported by MP1ST, who found the work in the portfolio of a former employee, identifying the game as ‘Project Dante’:
“This material originates from the portfolio of a former Hidden Path employee who contributed to the game’s music and sound effects. We have also discovered that this project was referred to internally as “Project Dante.”
AdvertisementThe various clips showcase third-person gameplay, offering glimpses into elements like player mobility, UI, puzzles, cinematics, and some of the characters that would have accompanied the player’s journey. For instance, the initial fragment depicts a mission to find a temple, showcasing both melee and ranged combat, with the UI indicating the possibility of deploying four different ranged abilities.”
Alongside some surprisingly detailed concept art, there’s an eight-minute video that showcases some fairly complete looking gameplay. In the clip above you can see how a character would navigate the world, including bringing more action-RPG combat into the mix. In the clip above you can see the fighter using sword and shield in concert, maing basic strikes, and using a shield bash, a kick, and a charge-up swing.
As MP1ST identifies, there’s space for “activated abilities” likely on a cooldown. And you can even get a sense of the kind of narrative structure. You can see the hero go on a quest to find a temple, accompanied by NPCs with (I assume place holder) voice acting and everything.
While there aren’t any concrete details as to how far along in the game’s build this footage comes from, I think it’s a pretty safe bet that it’s towards where Hidden Path was in 2023, when WotC pulled its funding. And again, there’s no indication of why WotC made such a hard reverse on its course. Perhaps it was to focus on the now-defunct Project Sigil, which was, in 2023, beginning its promised rise to prominence. 2023 saw the first digital miniatures and a big reveal in the D&D preview segment teasing the new edition. Now, of course, Project Sigil has also been sunset.
The concept art in the accompanying leaks gives us some more insight as to what this game might have been like. There are environments, mythic figures, even some D&D specific monsters, like a winged tressym kitten, alongside dwarven caves and sinister volcanoes.
And the gameplay itself feels very much like it’s an extension of D&D ideas. The armor style of the Fighter feels like it could have come from the 5th Edition starter set, in particular. Though, again, a lot of this is all just speculation. We don’t know how much further into development the game could have gone.
Despite the cancellation, WotC still has several video games in the works, including a newly announced game from Stig Amussen and Giant Skull, which seems like it might be the 3rd-person action game that WotC was hoping for. The road to development is a rocky one. More things don’t end up getting made than do, so, whatever the reason, it’s good to see the hard work that so many put into the game get at least some kind of attention.
Would you have played this one?
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