It only existed for a month, but its vision was revolutionary. Dungeon Keeper 3 was supposed to be like Age of Empires

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Peter Molyneux is undoubtedly a well-known figure within the gaming community. Once renowned for his eloquent storytelling, he’s best known today for making promises that have yet to be fulfilled (though there’s hope he may restore his reputation with the Masters of Albion project). His name has been etched in the annals of video game history multiple times.

Among his notable creations, one stands out – Dungeon Keeper, a strategy game series that offered an immersive experience of ruling as a dark lord in an underground realm. Despite the Bullfrog Productions studio only producing two primary games (with a mobile spin-off, which is best left unmentioned), there was a time when it appeared a groundbreaking third installment might emerge. Let’s explore what Dungeon Keeper 3 had in store for us.

From the ground to the surface

Fans of the series may learn that Dungeon Keeper 2 could potentially have a sequel by viewing a brief trailer accompanying

As an ardent fan, I can share that the early stages for the third installment of “Dungeon Keeper” began in November 1999, and officially, work on this exciting project was disclosed at the start of February 2000. It might seem surprising to learn that the project was halted only a month later in March, but the announcement wasn’t made until August of the same year. You may think that a few weeks isn’t a long time and the developers probably didn’t have much concrete progress, but you’d be mistaken. In just those brief weeks, there were significant strides made, even though it ultimately didn’t lead to the final product.

Stronghold Keeper of Empires

The Bullfrog Productions team successfully developed a detailed concept for the project, which resembled games like Stronghold and Age of Empires more than earlier installments in the series. This new game offers three novel playable races: heroes, dungeon dwellers, and elders. Unlike the initial two races that symbolize good and evil respectively, the elders will be neutral, adding a fresh element to the series.

From the get-go, it was evident that the distinct groups had their unique architectural styles: as a fan, I found myself admiring the pristine, well-organized citadels built by the heroes, while the dwelling places of the underground dwellers were designed to instill a sense of foreboding with their ominous, dark aesthetics.

Translating that sentence to a more natural and easy-to-read style, it could be:

Instead of excavating tunnels and chambers during gameplay, we might construct traditional fortresses instead. Naturally, these structures would require resources and gold, which our laborers would collect for us. However, it remains uncertain whether the developers plan to keep combat somewhat automated, allowing us merely to deploy units and cast spells, or if they will grant us direct command over the soldiers.

Uphill from the start

Regrettably, the third installment of Dungeon Keeper, initially faced numerous challenges. By 1999’s end, its designer and author, Zy Nicholson, had departed from Bullfrog Productions, leaving Ernest W. Adams in charge. The team was rather small, making it difficult to recruit artists or programmers. As a result, most of the game materials were unfortunately lost; only a few sketches remain as exceptions.

What led to the cancellation of Dungeon Keeper 3, you ask? Here’s what the developers themselves have shared on their site:

“The reason we had to call off Dungeon Keeper 3 development is due to a combination of factors. Primarily, it was a matter of resources and priorities within our studio.

In the storyline of Dungeon Keeper, the third installment was underway, but the prospect of creating fresh intellectual properties on emerging platforms like the PlayStation 2 led to a halt in production for Dungeon Keeper 3 (DK3). As of now, there are no definite plans for another game within the Dungeon Keeper series; however, it remains a significant franchise, and potential chances could arise to continue this lineage in the future.

It was rumored that Electronic Arts shifting their focus towards licenses such as Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings may have impeded the progress of the Dungeon Keeper brand, as it wasn’t considered as profitable as those two franchises.

There were whispers that Electronic Arts prioritizing licenses like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings might have stalled the growth of the Dungeon Keeper brand, since it wasn’t deemed as financially rewarding compared to those properties.

What happened next?

The gap in gaming experience once provided by Dungeon Keeper from 2013 has, at least partially, been filled with the release of the Dungeons series by Realmforge Studios and Kalypso Media, starting in February 2011.

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2025-07-20 21:02