According to recent reports, Activision studio Vicarious Visions was developing a 3D Donkey Kong title for the Nintendo Switch before the project was eventually scrapped. The game, codenamed "Freedom," was said to be a 3D platformer with a primary focus on movement, incorporating a unique mechanic that allowed Donkey Kong to grind on vines.

News of the Donkey Kong project first surfaced on DK Vine, a popular Donkey Kong fansite. Video game historian Liam Robertson further elaborated on the story, revealing that the game was initiated after Nintendo was impressed by the inclusion of Nintendo characters in the Skylanders SuperChargers game. However, Robertson could not substantiate this claim.

Vicarious Visions collaborated closely with Nintendo on the development of the Donkey Kong game, with legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto providing feedback and suggestions for the game's mechanics. Despite this level of involvement, the project reportedly never progressed beyond its early stages and was worked on for approximately six months.

Unfortunately, the game faced setbacks and was ultimately abandoned in 2016. It is reported that Activision's shifting focus towards the Call of Duty franchise, prioritizing its catalog of titles, played a significant role in the cancellation.

The demise of the Donkey Kong project became a turning point for Vicarious Visions, as it prompted the departures of Karthik and Guha Bala, the founders of the studio. In 2016, they left Vicarious Visions and went on to establish Velan Studios.

The cancellation of this Donkey Kong game marks a significant development in the chronology of Nintendo's beloved franchise. The previous main series game, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, was released in 2014 for the Wii U, followed by a re-release in 2018. While there haven't been any recent mainline entries, Donkey Kong has remained a prominent figure in Nintendo's broader media ventures, including an upcoming Super Mario Bros. movie and the addition of a Donkey Kong-themed area in Super Nintendo World, set to launch in Japan this year, followed by its American counterpart in 2025.

It remains to be seen if Nintendo will revisit the idea of a 3D Donkey Kong game in the future or if this cancelled project will be forever consigned to the history of Vicarious Visions' collaboration with the iconic video game franchise.