200X Lionhead Studios
Platform: PC and possibly others
Billion Dollar Monster was a cancelled game developed by Lionhead Studios, blending virtual pet mechanics with competitive battling and an ambitious TV show component. Designed as a PC game, each player would receive a unique egg that hatched into a customizable monster, which they would nurture and train, akin to a Tamagotchi. Players could then battle their monsters against others, with matches potentially being recorded.
The standout feature of this particular game was the integration of a television show, created in collaboration with the team behind Walking with Dinosaurs, featuring high-quality CGI battles. Selected players’ creatures would be showcased in dramatic, arena-style fights, elevating the game beyond just an interactive experience.
A proof-of-concept video or pilot was created, depicting a colosseum battle with developers dressed in togas as spectators and was witnessed by Charlie Edwards, who was working at Lionhead Studios at the time. However, at that stage, the monsters were still in an early development state, appearing as simple, flat-shaded models rather than fully realized designs.
It remains unclear how far the game itself progressed and there are no known builds of the actual gameplay at this stage, only footage of the TV concept. Little to no information about Billion Dollar Monster exists online, making it a particularly obscure lost project from Lionhead’s history. If you know anything more about it or have any information to share – please do get in touch.
With a huge thank you to Charlie Edwards for his recollections.
