Crash Bandicoot might not have too many games, but the former PlayStation mascot is still seen by many as a video game icon. This is why it’s incredibly heartbreaking to learn that a Crash Bandicoot 5 was in development, but has since been canceled.
Nicholas Kole, a character artist who worked for Activision Blizzard, revealed that he was working on a fifth entry to this beloved platformer franchise. Although Kole doesn’t reveal why it was canceled, he did say that the story of its cancelation will “break hearts” should it ever come out.
Kole was part of development for a game called “Project Dragon,” which many fans assumed was a new Spyro the Dragon game. It seems that name was chosen to throw fans off, as this was the aforementioned Crash Bandicoot 5 before getting canceled. Needless to say, it’s a shame that we aren’t getting a new platformer with these characters anytime soon.
The last time this character received an official entry was Toys for Bob’s excellent Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. While it’s not the fourth entry in this series, that goes to Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, it’s still an innovative sequel that fans should play. Fans who want to play a pseudo-3D platformer with great levels and plenty of gimmicks should give this a shot.
At the time of writing, the future of Crash Bandicoot is in limbo, with Activision Blizzard seemingly focused on Call of Duty for the foreseeable future. We did see the release of Crash Team Rumble last year, a multiplayer-focused platformer, and though it was reviewed decently it wasn’t what fans wanted. It was also reported that the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy has sold 20 million copies, making fans wonder why we aren’t getting Crash Bandicoot 5.
Fans who need some good Crash Bandicoot games should check out 4 and the N. Sane Trilogy when they can. Both titles are available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, and PC.