Unearthed Ryse prototype reveals how the Xbox One launch title looked as an Xbox 360 game Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Unearthed Ryse prototype reveals how the Xbox One launch title looked as an Xbox 360 game Blast from the past. News by Wesley Yin-Poole Deputy Editorial Director Updated on 11 May 2019 15 comments Remember Ryse? Crytek's 2013 Xbox One launch title was a good-looking but brutally short third-person sword and shield combat game that was designed to show off what Microsoft's new console could do. But it wasn't always so. Initially, Ryse was meant to be an Xbox 360 game. Then, before it was known as Ryse, it was known as Codename Kingdoms. And it was not third-person, but first-person. A recently unearthed prototype of Codename Kingdoms shows us how Ryse looked in this early form. The video, below, published by YouTube channel Prototype Preservation, was created from a prototype found on an Xbox 360 dev kit bought by a Twitter user called Cheese007. Now, this is a prototype, so much of what we can see from this build of the game is unfinished, or even working properly. But we do get a decent idea of how Ryse would have worked as a first-person game - and what it might have looked like. Ryse suffered from a development hell, and sources who worked on the project have told me over the years it was a complete disaster from beginning to end for a variety of reasons. Back in 2014, Unseen64 published a report into Ryse's troubled development, detailing how it went from being an Xbox 360 game to being a Kinect game until finally ending up as an Xbox One launch title, bouncing around various developers along the way. In 2014, Ryse 2 was canned because of a conflict between Crytek and Microsoft over who would own the rights to the franchise. Amid financial troubles at Crytek, we haven't heard of the series since. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Sennheiser's legendary HD 599 open-back headphones are just £70 at Amazon in the Prime Early Access Sale Comfortable with neutral sound and a wide sound stage. Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. 1 Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store