Rockstar Games, the developers best known for the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series, were at one point in time making an Austin Powers racing game.
There was a point in time where Mike Myers was a massively popular actor. Wayne’s World was a smash hit in the 90s, and no one can forget about Shrek. And of course, there was the trilogy of Austin Powers films.
These films were popular, for reasons that might forever remain a mystery. The second two films grossed around $300 million each respectively. So of course, Rockstar wanted to make an Austin Powers racing game, but it was ultimately cancelled.
The game was called Austin Powers: Mojo Rally, and according to an interview from IGN in 2000 [and recently brought to attention in a feature in TheGamer], it would make you feel a certain way. “We have an extremely talented and experienced team in Brighton, and the end product will make you very, very horny,” said executive producer of the game Nick Baynes.
Sure, that all sounds right. Mojo Rally was originally intended to be released on the Sega Dreamcast. As the interview notes, while there were a lot of racers on the console, Mojo Rally was intended to be a kart racer. Think Mario Kart, but shagadelic.
Characters were semi-realistic, with low-poly models of the various actors in vehicles seen throughout the films. The game would have power-ups like any good kart racer, and tracks would have had a time travel gimmick. And according to Baynes, Rockstar had hired an “excellent funk band” to compose the score.
Weirdly, the game was going to be rated E, leaving the incredibly fatphobic character Fat Bastard in an awkward position. The reason the game was cancelled never came to light. But perhaps on this occasion, that’s something to be thankful for.
Shop With GameByte!
Don’t forget you can find great games and more on the GameByte Shop! We’ve stocked our store up with the latest games, merch and accessories. We might even have a new-gen console or two! Sign up to our newsletter to be notified of our console drops, deals and more. Please note the GameByte Shop is available for UK customers only.
Featured Image Credit: New Line Cinema