Gameplay footage and concept art from the canceled Dungeons & Dragons RPG codenamed Project Dante have surfaced online, giving fans their first look at a promising game that never made it to release.
A Lost Chapter in D&D Gaming History
Originally in development by Hidden Path Entertainment, Project Dante was intended to be a third-person, open-world RPG set in the expansive world of Dungeons & Dragons. The project first came to light in 2021 through job listings, but few details were ever confirmed. Now, thanks to a leak uncovered by MP1st, the community can finally see what was being built.
The leaked materials include eight minutes of early gameplay footage and a gallery of concept art, revealing lush fantasy environments, real-time combat, puzzle-solving, and party-based mechanics. The visual style and gameplay evoke strong comparisons to Dragon Age and The Elder Scrolls, both spiritual cousins of the D&D universe.
Inside the Leaked Gameplay
While the footage clearly comes from a pre-alpha stage, it demonstrates a working build of combat, exploration, and character collaboration. The player navigates a forested area with party members, solves environmental puzzles, and fights fantasy enemies in real time. Spell-casting, melee attacks, and tactical movement all appear to be central features.
The world itself seems richly detailed, with designs and lore rooted in the D&D multiverse—though it’s unclear exactly which setting it was based in. Given the flexibility of the franchise, fans speculate it could have drawn from popular realms like the Forgotten Realms or Eberron.
What Happened to Project Dante?
Despite its potential, Project Dante was ultimately canceled in 2023. It was one of five Dungeons & Dragons games shelved by Wizards of the Coast as part of a larger restructuring effort. The news disappointed fans and raised concerns about the company’s handling of digital projects.
At the time, no footage or images were ever shared publicly—making this recent leak the first tangible look at what could have been a standout fantasy RPG.
A Missed Opportunity?
The reaction from fans has been swift and emotional. Many in the D&D and RPG communities see Project Dante as a missed opportunity to bring the franchise to a new generation of players. While games like Baldur’s Gate 3 have delivered on the promise of D&D storytelling, a fully open-world, third-person experience remains elusive.
As Wizards of the Coast continues to expand the D&D brand, the success of future video games may hinge on how well they learn from past cancellations like Project Dante.