Apologies to Crash Bandicoot enthusiasts: a fifth installment in the series was indeed in development, but unfortunately, it did not make it past the planning stages.
In recent months, the usually carefree and adventurous bandicoot has found itself entangled in a series of peculiar events that have left many wondering what’s next. He experienced a resurgence in popularity in 2017 with the release of Crash Bandicoot N. The Sane Trilogy brought Crash Bandicoot’s classic protagonist back into focus, finding widespread appeal among both nostalgic players and a fresh, younger audience as well. The series’ resurgence continued with the 2019 reboot of Crash Team Racing, followed by Toys for Bob’s eagerly anticipated sequel, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, just a year later. Although issues have subsided somewhat since then. In the past year, Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! arrived as a live-service game that ultimately struggled to generate significant revenue; its last content update dropped in March of this year. Despite ongoing speculation, the question remains: will Crash Bandicoot 5 ever materialize? It appears to be stagnant, with no noticeable increase?
Here are some old friends! That’s in response to Nicholas Kole, a versatile artist who worked on video games such as the Spyro Reignited Trilogy and, notably, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. The competitive endeavor known as Kole’s Mission Dragon, which had been his primary focus until recently, was abruptly terminated. This unforeseen development has sparked curiosity among enthusiasts, with some wondering whether the cancellation is somehow connected to the purple dragon Spyro, a character from popular gaming lore. Kole confirmed that Mission Dragon was not a fresh take on the classic Spyro franchise, later sharing concept art showcasing its true nature as a Minecraft-inspired fantasy game that, honestly, looks quite lovely. Despite the debunked claim about a Spyro remake, Kole noticed a cryptic comment suggesting that “someday” people would be disappointed to learn that there never was a Crash Bandicoot 5, which would be heart-wrenching.
While there’s been no official word on Crash Bandicoot 5, nor does Kole work at Toys for Bob, proceed with caution to avoid disappointment. The developer behind Crash Bandicoot 4 ventured out independently earlier this year, establishing their own studio and embracing the world of game development with greater autonomy. Notably, they have since partnered with Microsoft for their next project, sparking widespread speculation that it might be a new Spyro title – a notion that’s hardly surprising given the franchise’s enduring popularity. We’ll need to wait and observe if anyone has additional insights to contribute on Schrödinger’s Crash 5 at a later stage.
