A piece of lost gaming history has been unearthed, with an unreleased Nintendo DS LEGO prototype selling for nearly $1000 on eBay.
LEGO Battles: Castles, a cancelled DS game from 2009, sold for $950 via Buy It Now just days after being listed on the auction platform.
The discovery has sent ripples through both the LEGO and retro gaming communities, offering a rare glimpse into what could have been part of the beloved LEGO video game franchise.
The prototype cartridge, identified as LEGO Battles: Castles, appeared on eBay in mid-December 2025. Listed by seller “selling4fun2319,” the development cartridge quickly attracted attention from collectors and preservationists.
The $950 price tag represents the high end of gaming prototype valuations, reflecting both the rarity of Nintendo DS development cartridges and the significance of unreleased LEGO content.
Visual evidence from the listing shows a standard DS development cartridge with handwritten labeling, along with screenshots revealing a strategy game featuring LEGO Castle themes and minifigure-style characters.
The game appears to be an early version or variant of LEGO Battles, which was eventually released in 2009 by Hellbent Games. However, this Castle version contains unique elements not seen in the final commercial release.
LEGO Battles: Castles was developed by Hellbent Games, the studio behind the released LEGO Battles title. The prototype dates back to 2009, during the peak of Nintendo DS popularity and LEGO video game expansion.
The game appears to have combined real-time strategy gameplay with LEGO Castle themes, featuring medieval minifigures, castle building mechanics, and strategic combat elements.
TT Games, the primary developer of most LEGO video games, would have likely been involved in publishing had the game reached completion. The cancellation reasons remain unclear, though market timing and franchise strategy decisions often influence such choices.
LEGO Castle as a theme has a rich history dating back to 1978, making it a natural fit for video game adaptation. The theme’s medieval elements translate well to strategy gameplay, which may explain why this prototype existed alongside the more general LEGO Battles release.
Development Cartridge: A specialized Nintendo DS cartridge used during game development, containing unfinished or test versions of games that were never released commercially.
The $950 sale price reflects a growing market for gaming prototypes and development materials. Rare Nintendo DS prototypes typically command prices between $500-2000, depending on significance and completeness.
Prototype collectors value these items for several reasons: they represent alternative versions of beloved franchises, offer insights into the development process, and serve as tangible pieces of gaming history.
The timing of this sale during the holiday season may have contributed to the quick purchase, as collectors often increase their acquisition activities during this period.
Quick Summary: The LEGO DS prototype market mirrors broader retro gaming trends, with rare development cartridges becoming increasingly valuable as preservation awareness grows.
The discovery has sparked discussions within gaming preservation communities about the importance of saving such prototypes from private collections.
Many preservationists hope the buyer will share the game’s contents with the community, allowing researchers and enthusiasts to study this piece of LEGO gaming history.
Past examples of unreleased games being preserved through community efforts demonstrate the positive impact such sharing can have on gaming historical research.
Concerns remain about prototype deterioration over time, as development cartridges may be more fragile than commercial releases and require special handling to maintain functionality.
“Every preserved prototype adds to our understanding of game development history and the creative process behind beloved franchises.”
– Gaming Preservation Community
The LEGO Battles: Castles prototype represents more than just a collector’s item – it’s a window into an alternate timeline of LEGO gaming history.
While the game may never be widely available, its discovery and preservation ensure that this chapter of LEGO video game development won’t be completely lost to time.
The gaming community will be watching to see if the new owner shares any additional details about the prototype’s contents or history.
