History RefittedForSequel / VideoGames

** ''VideoGame/FalloutVanBuren'' was canceled, but the majority of the plot and Caesar's Legion was incorporated into ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas''. And the parts of ''Van Buren'' that weren't part of ''New Vegas'' proper were used for DLC, namely ''Honest Hearts''.

* ''Videogame/MonkeyIsland2LeChucksRevenge'' incoporates a concept for Ron Gilbert's original pitch for ''Videogame/TheSecretOfMonkeyIsland'' (at this point called Mutiny On Monkey Island), where Melee Island was led by the dictator Governor Fat [sic], now renamed Phatt and running an island he has named after himself. Much like the original idea, he is an aging dictator who once struck fear in the hearts of inhabitants but now is too lazy to do anything and thus gets his inept right hand man to do his dirty work.=

* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'':
** ''VideoGame/FalloutVanBuren'' was canceled, but the majority of the plot and Caesar's Legion was incorporated into ''New Vegas''. And the parts of ''Van Buren'' that weren't part of ''New Vegas'' proper were used for DLC, namely ''Honest Hearts''.

* The BonusBoss of ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'', [[spoiler:Morpho Knight]], was originally designed for the [[{{Vaporware}} canceled]] [=GameCube=] ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' game. Its concept art for said game was shown, without context, in the commemorative booklet about the franchise's history included with ''Kirby's Dream Collection'' in 2012.

* The BonusBoss of ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'', [[spoiler:Morpho Knight]], was originally designed for the [[{{Vaporware}} canceled]] [=GameCube=] ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' game. Its concept art for said game was shown, without context, in an art book released years before its proper debut.

** From the [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry2 second game]], series director Hideaki Itsuno wanted to implement a motorbike weapon into the series, but was limited by time and struggled to return to the idea until ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' with the weapon Cavaliere, which acts as a motorbike and splits into dual buzzsaws, and is a fan favourite weapon.

* The BonusBoss of ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'', [[spoiler:Morpho Knight]], was originally designed for the [[{{Vaporware}} canceled]] [=GameCube=] ''Kirby'' game. Its concept art for said game was shown, without context, in an art book released years before its proper debut.

* ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'' has two examples:
** The design for the BonusBoss, [[spoiler:Morpho Knight]], is based on a piece of concept art for the cancelled [=GameCube=] Kirby game. The artbook in which the design previously appeared labeled it as [[spoiler:"Meta Knight"]], though it's unclear what the design was truly for.
** The concept of a final boss with heavy connections to [[spoiler:Dark Matter]] was initially intended for ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot''. Concept art reveals that [[spoiler:Star Dream, rather than linking with the Access Ark which would reveal itself as a machine similar to [[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Galactic Nova]], would have revealed itself to be a robot modeled after [[VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards Zero Two]]]]. ''Star Allies'' reworks the idea of [[spoiler:a destructive boss linked to Zero and Dark Matter into Void Termina]]. Concept art (presumably for the [[TrueFinalBoss Soul fight]]) even shows Kirby in an area baring a similarity to [[spoiler:Void Termina's innards]].

** The artbooks also feature concept art of an unused "Crypt Hydra", a two-headed {{mummy}} snake creature, hailing from before it was decided that the series would go for a LowFantasy setting. The two-headed serpent concept was eventually reused in ''Monster Hunter Generations'' with Nakarkos, with the hydra heads serving as disguised tentacles for the giant cuttlefish-dragon.

* ''VideoGame/UruAgesBeyondMyst'' is an interesting example. The game was intended to be significantly more ambitious than the finished product ended up being, with regular online content updates continuing the story and extra Ages to explore. When the online component was cancelled, some of said content was reused into a pair of expansion packs. When the online was {{Uncancelled}}, several plot threads were picked up for a bit before the online was dropped ''again'' and the plot was LeftHanging. Everything was eventually finished in ''VideoGame/MystVEndOfAges'', and one scrapped Age was recycled for the later SpiritualSuccessor, ''VideoGame/{{Obduction}}''.
* ''VideoGame/Wasteland2'' was intended to feature a CargoCult faction known as the Gippers, who worship UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan and [[RedScare paint communists as literal demons]]. They were cut early in development, with only some character portraits remaining in the game, but were [[https://www.fig.co/campaigns/wasteland-3?update=301#updates retooled]] for the later ''Wasteland 3''.

** The ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' Spaceworld demo featured many scrapped Pokémon that would eventually be repurposed later on in the series: Evolutions for Lickitung and Tangela, a pre-evolution for Mr. Mime, and a grass-type Eevee evolution were cut from ''Gold and Silver'', then made a reality once ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' was released several years later. Another scrapped evolution from the Spaceworld demo was an evolution for Farfetch'd; decades later, Farfetch'd would finally gain an evolution in the form of Sirfetch'd in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield''. And an [[https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/3/30/MicroGroup_Game_Review_Volume_14.jpg unused turtle Pokémon from a magazine cover]] resembles Tirtouga, which was first introduced in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite''.

** Snowboarders are a cut Trainer class from Generation III that were reused for Generation IV.

** In ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', there was supposed to be a [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/0/0b/Early_Leaf.png character]] who seemed to be a female protagonist. She was never added, probably due to the fact the cart couldn't handle much more data, but was the basis for Green in ''Manga/PokemonAdventures''. Eight years later, the character was resigned for ''[[VideoGameRemake FireRed/LeafGreen]]'' as a protagonist (now called "Leaf"), with new clothes and different bangs. A variant on the original design created once again for ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndEevee'', with Green acting as a late-game NPC alongside Red.

** The ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' Spaceworld demo featured many scrapped Pokémon that would eventually be repurposed later on in the series: Evolutions for Lickitung and Tangela, a pre-evolution for Mr. Mime, and a grass-type Eevee evolution were cut from ''Gold and Silver'', then made a reality once ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' was released several years later. Another scrapped evolution from the Spaceworld demo was an evolution for Farfetch'd; decades later, Farfetch'd would finally gain an evolution in the form of Sirfetch'd in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield''. And an [[http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/3/32/Alpha_turtle.png unused turtle Pokemon]] from the demo resembles Tirtouga, which was first introduced in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' was originally going to have a magic system, but as the lore developed and humans were firmly established as non-magical, it had to be cut. ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'' has you play as a party of three, and the two non-humans do have access to magic.

** Time-traveling was a concept first conceived for ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'' but wasn't added into a game until ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]''. Dust Hill, a crumbling, worn-down variation of Green Hill set in a "bad present" where Dr. Robotnik has succeeded in taking over the world (the name of which was often attributed to a desert level seen in pre-release screenshots), may have been revived as ''VideoGame/SonicForces''' decidedly arid take on Green Hill.

** From the second game, series director Hideaki Itsuno wanted to implement a motorbike weapon into the series, but was limited by time and struggled to return to the idea until ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' with the weapon Cavaliere, which acts as a motorbike and splits into dual buzzsaws, and is a fan favourite weapon.

*** Dante was originally going to receive his Devil Arms from bosses as he did in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3'', with the defeated bosses becoming weapons, but in the final game he only fights the same bosses as Nero. One of his weapons, Gilgamesh, was repurposed as a boss in the 5th game, though likely in a different fashion than originally intended.

* ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'': Fei Long from ''[[UpdatedRerelease Super Street Fighter II]]'' was initially concepted as one half of a pair of Kung Fu twin brothers from Hong Kong. The plans fell through over not wanting another pair of {{Head Swap}}s, resulting in Dee Jay being added to the roster, but Capcom eventually had another go at their initial plan through ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII''[='s=] Yun and Yang.

* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' was intended to have Devil Kazuya with wings (as seen in concept art), P. Jack with the ability to fly (he has a jetpack in the game though it is not functional), and Kunimitsu as a female character (she ended up using Yoshimitsu's male assets due to space limitations). In addition, the boss characters would have differed more substantially than being {{Moveset Clone}}s with a couple of extra moves. These were all implemented in Tekken 2, as the hardware was now up to the standard to include them.
* ''VideoGame/SpyroTheDragon'':
** The plot of ''VideoGame/SpyroEnterTheDragonfly'' was supposed to be DarkerAndEdgier than previous titles. It was supposed to feel less kiddie and "more like the flavor of ''Literature/HarryPotter''". Sony vetoed this idea, but a similar idea was reuse years later with the first ContinuityReboot, ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro''.
** ''VideoGame/SpyroEnterTheDragonfly'' was supposed to introduce a pink female dragon named "Ember". Due to developmental change, there wasn't anywhere in the game for her. She was scrapped but reused in ''VideoGame/SpyroAHerosTail'', where Ember shortly appeared for two scenes in the game (and can be played using a skin).
* ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'': Fei Long from ''[[UpdatedRerelease Super Street Fighter II]]'' was initially concepted as one half of a pair of Kung Fu twin brothers from Hong Kong. The plans fell through over not wanting another pair of {{Head Swap}}s, resulting in Dee Jay being added to the roster, but Capcom eventually had another go at their initial plan through ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'''s Yun and Yang.

** Although [[Franchise/KingdomHearts Sora]] won the ballot deciding the final DLC character for the fourth game, the rights for him couldn't be obtained in time; so Bayonetta, the next-in-line amongst possible, negotiable characters, was added instead. Four years later, Sakurai finally managed to negotiate Sora's inclusion, and he became the final DLC character in ''Ultimate''.

** Although Sora won the ballot deciding the final DLC character for the fourth game, the rights for him couldn't be obtained in time; so Bayonetta, the next-in-line amongst possible, negotiable characters, was added instead. Four years later, Sakurai finally managed to negotiate Sora's inclusion, and he became the final DLC character in ''Ultimate''.

** Although Sora won the ballot deciding the final DLC character fot the fourth game, the rights for him couldn't be obtained in time; so Bayonetta, the next-in-line amongst possible, negotiable characters, was added instead. Four years later, Sakurai finally managed to negotiate Sora's inclusion, and he became the final DLC character in ''Ultimate''.

** Ditto from the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series was meant to be among the Poké Ball summons introduced in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee'', with the idea being that it would take the form of the player who activated it and function as a temporary AI teammate. The [=GameCube=] couldn't pull this off without crashing, however, so the concept was shelved until ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' over 15 years later.

** Likewise, the [[VideoGame/AnimalCrossing Villager]] was considered to join the battle in ''Brawl'', but Sakurai couldn't think of how to implement them due to how peaceful a game series ''Animal Crossing'' was. He ended up figuring it out when it came time to plan the base roster for ''[=3DS=] and Wii U''.
** Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto personally requested VideoGame/PacMan be made a playable character for ''Brawl'', as Pac-Man is his favorite video game character, but -- like the previous two examples -- Sakurai was unable to think of a good moveset at the time. He would make his debut in ''[=3DS=] and Wii U'', which happened to be the first ''Smash'' game developed by [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Bandai Namco]], which owns the character.

*** The game was originally planned to have a Wind Temple and an Ice Temple, which would be replaced with the Forest Temple and Water Temple respectively (the Ice Temple ended up being relegated to the Ice Cavern to a MiniDungeon). This explains why the Medallion icons for the two temples are modeled after wind and ice and ''also'' explains why the Forest and Water routes in Ganon's Tower are themed around wind and ice, again respectively. ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'' eventually introduced the Wind Temple, while the posthumous former sage of that dungeon, Fado, is named after the character who was going to be the sage of the scrapped ''Ocarina'' version before Saria took the role for the repurposed version. Ice-themed dungeons went on to appear in subsequent games, including an Ice Temple by name in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass Phantom Hourglass]]''.
** The Hero's Shade teaching you moves in ''Twilight Princess'' is similar to an unused concept for ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]'' where Link learned skills via cutscenes.