Editing Donkey Kong Racing

|publisher=Unreleased

|genre=[[Genre#Racing games|Racing]]

|modes=Single player, multiplayer

'''''Donkey Kong Racing''''' was a canceled ''[[Donkey Kong (franchise)|Donkey Kong]]'' racing game for the [[Nintendo GameCube]]. It would have served as a loose follow-up to ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]''.

The game was first announced at E3 2001, with a pre-rendered trailer showing the game's concept. However, the trailer and a press release (which stated that the game was set for release in late 2002)<ref>[https://archive.org/details/g-force-1-may-2002/page/24/mode/2up G-Force magazine issue 1 (May 2002)], pages 24–25.</ref> made in anticipation of {{wp|Nintendo Space World|Space World}} 2001 ended up being the only media shown to the public.

Despite being presented at Space World 2001, the game was not featured in the Nintendo Space World 2001 Official Guidebook.

Sometime in 2002, [[Rare Ltd.|Rare]] decided to present only ''[[lylatwiki:Star Fox Adventures|Star Fox Adventures]]'' at E3 2002. This decision was most likely in response to a private agreement with {{wp|Microsoft Corporation|Microsoft}}, who would later purchase Rare on September 24, 2002, just after Nintendo published ''Star Fox Adventures''.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20100731105039/http://mundorare.com/features/chronicle-of-a-buyout-foretold Mundo Rare (Internet Archive)]</ref> ''Donkey Kong Racing'' and Rare's other titles from E3 2001 were either privately canceled, put on hold, or ported to the {{wp|Xbox (console)|Xbox}} or {{wp|Xbox 360}}. The game was officially canceled along with ''[[Donkey Kong Coconut Crackers]]'' on August 13, 2002,<ref>[https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7645/changes-to-rares-website Changes to Rare's Website]</ref> one month before Microsoft's acquisition of Rare, which caused the latter company to lose the rights to ''Donkey Kong'' games. It remained in the lineup of upcoming games in ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' until issue 162 (November 2002), when it was delisted for future issues.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/NintendoPower149to169Incomplete/Nintendo%20Power%20162%20-%202002%20Nov%20FINAL/page/n19/mode/2up ''Nintendo Power'' Issue 162 (November 2002)], page 28.</ref>

After the buyout, the game was being heavily reworked as ''{{wp|Sabreman|Sabreman Stampede}}'', which was planned for an Xbox 360 release. However, this iteration, too, ended up being canceled due to a lack of focus and Rare's unfamiliarity with the hardware.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200126075054/http://www.mundorare.com/features/stampedes-sorrowful-swan-song/ "Stampede's Sorrowful Swan Song" (Internet Archive)] (accessed July 19, 2012)</ref><ref name=NintendoLife>[http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/02/month_of_kong_whatever_happened_to_donkey_kong_racing Nintendo Life: Month Of Kong: Whatever Happened To Donkey Kong Racing?]</ref> A ''Donkey Kong''-themed racing game would eventually be released on the [[Wii]] in 2007: ''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]''.

Confirmed characters in the game included [[Donkey Kong]], [[Tiny Kong]], [[Diddy Kong]], [[Taj]], and [[Kiddy Kong]] (with an internal render also featuring [[Lanky Kong]] and [[Cranky Kong]]). Rideable creatures seen were [[Rambi]] in varying sizes and colors, [[Enguarde]] in varying colors, [[Ellie]], and [[Zinger]]. Creatures implied to be rideable in group shots include [[Expresso]], [[Chomps]], [[Necky]], and [[Army]].

According to the Space World press release,<ref>[http://cube.ign.com/articles/136/136565p1.html "Donkey Kong Racing Spaceworld 2001: New shots of the CG intro."] (accessed July 19, 2012)</ref> the game would have featured the ability to "upgrade" the animal rides into "true thoroughbreds" by collecting food and prizes during the races. Multiplayer for up to four players was planned, as were "real-world phenomena" happening during the races, such as swaying trees and fading sunlight. The player could switch between animals during the races, and the rider could fall from its ride, forcing it to run on foot to catch up with the animal.<ref name=NintendoLife />

Taj on Red Rambi Donkey Kong Racing.jpg|[[Taj]] on a small pinkish Rambi

DK on Rambi Donkey Kong Racing.jpg|Donkey Kong on a small bluish Rambi