BattleBots (lost build of unreleased GameCube/PlayStation 2 game based on robot combat TV series; 2003)

GameCube cover art.

Status: Lost

BattleBots was a video game based on the robot combat television show BattleBots. It was developed by Warthog Games and was set to be published by THQ for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 in 2003 prior to cancellation.

Development[edit | edit source]

On 19th November 2001, it was announced that THQ had secured the licence to publish BattleBots games. Development for a GameCube and PlayStation 2 title had already started, with plans for future Xbox and PC games.^[1] BattleBots was first showcased by THQ at E3 2002.^[2]^[3] According to Nintendo World Report, there was a playable GameCube demo containing around five robots to battle as, within a single bridge arena. Based on this article, the game would feature 80 robots, 40 of which would be from the TV show. It also featured basic and advance control configurations, and plans were made to have a four-player mode.^[4]

IGN listed other details, including 20 arenas being added into the game, and three different game modes; these were Simulation Mode that emulated the TV series' tournament structure and arenas; Arcade Mode, where one could freely choose robots they created or from the show and compete in arenas with power-ups added; and Multi-player Mode.^[5] The game would also be showcased at Gen Con 2002, with GameSpot reviewers detailing the GameCube demo, and noting that the game would allow for the camera to be switched to a "robot's eye" view during a fight.^[6]

The game was first announced on the official BattleBots website on September 12, 2002, with an expected release date in November 2002.^[7] However, the game was then postponed until early February 2003,^[8] before being delayed once again to May 2003.^[9] After that, there were no more mentions of the game on the website. According to the February 2018 issue of Retro Gamer, THQ suddenly decided to end the project, despite the game reaching "an advanced stage of development".^[10] This most likely stemmed from the announcement that Comedy Central had decided not to renew the show for another season in September 2002,^[11] and because of a slow improvement in fixing bugs and issues during development.^[12]

Availability[edit | edit source]

While the game went unreleased, prototypes of the game were made and sold on the official website for $150^[13] and again for $299.98, with seemingly only one copy for sale.^[14] In May 2015, Team Nightmare Combat Robots were actually able to play the GameCube version. A screenshot exists of the aftermath, where hotel security caught them playing it on the hotel lobby's television.^[15] Despite all of these events, no build of the game, in demo or complete form, has ever been publicly released. YouTuber Gatorbox had also owned a GameCube build of the game, but it was never publicly released due to a copyright dispute.^[16]

Nevertheless, a video was uploaded to YouTube showcasing gameplay footage. Additionally, many screenshots of the game and its concept art were made public in 2017 by Gary Switzer.^[17]