Secret Base, the studio behind the 2023 release Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, has published a short pitch clip that imagines Battletoads' Rash running through a pared-down version of the game's engine.
The video — presented by the developer as a proof-of-concept for potential Battletoads content or DLC — highlights Rash's signature moves, including his trademark super limbs, tongue grabs to pull enemies closer, and a sequence featuring the Turbo Bike.
According to Secret Base's statement on social media, the team screened the pitch for Microsoft.
The developer says Microsoft initially reacted positively but later ceased further communication.
Paraphrasing the studio's account: Secret Base reports that Microsoft appeared excited at first but then stopped responding, and the developer suspects a possible technical issue with their email systems may have prevented follow-up messages from reaching Microsoft.
Secret Base also confirmed that Rash was fully playable in the clip at the time the pitch was completed and credited animator David Zhang for bringing the character animation to life.
The studio emphasized that, while the pitch did not immediately lead to approved DLC, the idea of a new Battletoads-style brawler remains alive within the team now that work on Double Dragon Gaiden is finished.
The clip taps into a long history between the Battletoads and Double Dragon franchises.
The two franchises previously crossed over in the early 1990s with a joint release on 8-bit and 16-bit platforms — notably the NES, Game Boy and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis — and fans will recall Rash’s later guest appearance in Microsoft’s Killer Instinct reboot; Rash featured as a DLC guest fighter during the series run.
It’s also worth noting that the Battletoads IP is owned by Xbox Game Studios through Rare, meaning any official new entry or large-scale appearance will involve Microsoft’s properties and approval.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons itself released in 2023 and has been made available on multiple platforms, including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, PC and Xbox Series systems.
For Nintendo Switch owners and retro-action fans, Secret Base’s pitch clip is a reminder that legacy characters still resonate with players and developers alike.
Whether that resonance turns into formal DLC or a standalone return for the Battletoads will depend on future discussions with IP holders and platform partners.
The video — presented by the developer as a proof-of-concept for potential Battletoads content or DLC — highlights Rash's signature moves, including his trademark super limbs, tongue grabs to pull enemies closer, and a sequence featuring the Turbo Bike.
According to Secret Base's statement on social media, the team screened the pitch for Microsoft.
The developer says Microsoft initially reacted positively but later ceased further communication.
Paraphrasing the studio's account: Secret Base reports that Microsoft appeared excited at first but then stopped responding, and the developer suspects a possible technical issue with their email systems may have prevented follow-up messages from reaching Microsoft.
Secret Base also confirmed that Rash was fully playable in the clip at the time the pitch was completed and credited animator David Zhang for bringing the character animation to life.
The studio emphasized that, while the pitch did not immediately lead to approved DLC, the idea of a new Battletoads-style brawler remains alive within the team now that work on Double Dragon Gaiden is finished.
The clip taps into a long history between the Battletoads and Double Dragon franchises.
The two franchises previously crossed over in the early 1990s with a joint release on 8-bit and 16-bit platforms — notably the NES, Game Boy and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis — and fans will recall Rash’s later guest appearance in Microsoft’s Killer Instinct reboot; Rash featured as a DLC guest fighter during the series run.
It’s also worth noting that the Battletoads IP is owned by Xbox Game Studios through Rare, meaning any official new entry or large-scale appearance will involve Microsoft’s properties and approval.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons itself released in 2023 and has been made available on multiple platforms, including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, PC and Xbox Series systems.
For Nintendo Switch owners and retro-action fans, Secret Base’s pitch clip is a reminder that legacy characters still resonate with players and developers alike.
Whether that resonance turns into formal DLC or a standalone return for the Battletoads will depend on future discussions with IP holders and platform partners.
