Nintendo Switch Dev Kit Leak Reveals Unreleased Ridge Racer Prototype and Retro Studios' Project Harmony

A recent and significant leak involving a Nintendo Switch development kit has provided a rare look into unreleased and in-development games that were never intended for public eyes.

The uncovered files, shared through various online channels, include early development builds of multiple Nintendo Switch games, shedding light on canceled concepts and prototypes, with a particular focus on a Ridge Racer prototype and a mysterious Retro Studios project known as Project Harmony. The Nintendo Switch has been a dominant platform since its launch in 2017, with a thriving first-party and indie ecosystem on the Nintendo eShop.

Nintendo’s robust development pipeline often keeps future projects tightly guarded, making this breach especially noteworthy for both industry professionals and fans interested in game development history. Among the highlights of the leak are early debug builds of Splatoon 2, a critical and commercial success developed by Nintendo EPD, as well as a development build of ARMS, another unique Nintendo Switch exclusive.

Of particular interest is an unreleased prototype for Ridge Racer, a franchise long associated with racing excellence.

While Ridge Racer has previously appeared on various Nintendo hardware, an official release never materialized for the Switch, making the discovery of this prototype a revelation about what could have been for the platform’s racing offerings. Another notable find is a canceled project titled Project Harmony, developed by Retro Studios, the Texas-based company best known for their work on the Metroid Prime trilogy and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

The development files indicate that Project Harmony reached a playable state before ultimately being shelved.

This leak marks one of the first public confirmations of the project’s existence, providing industry observers with valuable context regarding Retro Studios' unreleased work during the Switch era. The leaked content also includes development materials for Rime—a puzzle-adventure game from Tequila Works that launched on the Nintendo Switch eShop in November 2017—as well as an unreleased Lego Civilization title, whose development status and publisher remain unconfirmed.

These files predominantly represent early builds, with some demonstrating partial playability according to those who have examined the leaked data. Nintendo has not issued an official statement regarding the leak.

Historically, the company treats such breaches with considerable seriousness, given their impact on intellectual property and ongoing relationships with third-party developers. This incident offers a unique glimpse into the intricate and competitive world of Nintendo Switch development.

For preservationists, journalists, and game industry professionals, the revelations underscore the breadth of titles considered for Nintendo’s hybrid console, even when some ultimately never reach consumers via the eShop or retail release. As more industry experts review the leaked materials, there may be further insights on these canceled and unreleased Nintendo Switch projects.

However, the situation also raises important questions around digital security and the protection of creative assets within the game development pipeline.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Ridge Racer Retro Studios Switch Harmony Project Harmony ARMS Splatoon 2 Rime Lego Civilization eShop