Footage of Early Killer Instinct Prototype for Xbox 360 Surfaces Online

• by Ian "iantothemax" Walker
• Posted November 11, 2014 at 7:26 pm

Back when Double Helix Games was still working on Killer Instinct for Xbox One, they provided a behind-the-scenes look at development by way of Gametrailers.

While an incredibly interesting look at the origins of the sequel in its own right, the short documentary also included a brief peek at the prototype Double Helix put together to show Microsoft as their bid for the job. Complete with blank models and Street Fighter IV’s training mode, the early build wasn’t much to speak of, but it did include glimpses of the game that would go on to be Killer Instinct.

However, it looks as if there might have been one more step between that rough proof-of-concept and the final Xbox One title.

Andrew Borman of Past to Present Online recently got his hands on another Killer Instinct prototype that looks much closer to the game we know today but also happens to be running on a different system: Xbox 360.

Yep, you read that right. According to Borman, the footage he was given demonstrates another early build that was made specifically for the Xbox One’s older sibling, though for what purpose remains unknown. It’s possible this prototype served as another stepping stone for Double Helix on their road to snagging the Killer Instinct license, or even that the game was originally planned for Xbox 360 before being shifted to the then next-generation console.

(Editor’s note: Borman noted in a follow-up email that the build is way too far along to be part of the pitch Double Helix put together for Microsoft.)

You’ll no doubt notice that the game is incomplete. Tons of assets appear to be missing, such as textures and stages, and Thunder even retains the mannequin-esque placeholders used in the earlier build.

In any case, this is just another interesting footnote on Killer Instinct’s road back to the fighting game community, so be sure to check it out and let us know what you think.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doMBDq1H98I

Source: http://shoryuken.com/2014/11/11/footage-of-early-killer-instinct-prototype-for-xbox-360-surfaces-online/

So pretty much every Xbox One launch game was originally intended to be a 360 title.

Maybe we will see a PC release too?

Xbone was launched before planned.

Sony really surprised MS with the Feb 2013 announce.

Man that looks like a pretty complete engine of the game, shame it got canned.

Nope, I doubt Forza 5 was ever intended to be a 360 title and Dead Rising 3 would have been severly gimped on the 360 making combo weapons on the spot would have been pretty much impossible on the 360.

Maybe not Forza 5, but the only thing that makes DR3 "next-gen" is the number of zombies on screen. Reduce that number and it could have easily been a 360 game.

LOL....If this hit the 360 I would never have accepted the Xbone from cousin. LOL

if it were on xbox 360, i'd buy it just to be able to use my street fighter fight pad.

I'm pretty sure you never played Dead Rising 3 and like I said before making combo weapons on the spot would pretty much be impossible on the 360.  If it would be possible they would have implemented that feature in Dead Rising 2: Off the Record.