"Crash Bandicoot 5 Canceled Post-Studio's Indie Shift"

Crash Bandicoot 5 Supposedly Shelved

'Project Dragon' Also Scrapped

The gaming community was recently hit with disheartening news about a potential Crash Bandicoot 5. Former Toys For Bob concept artist Nicholas Kole hinted at the game's cancellation in an X (Twitter) post on July 12th. While discussing his other canceled project, "Project Dragon," which sparked speculation from Sonic comic writer Daniel Barnes about it being Spyro-related due to its name, Kole clarified that "Project Dragon" was a new IP with Phoenix Labs. However, he also revealed the shelving of Crash Bandicoot 5, stating, "It is not Spyro, but some day folks will hear about the Crash 5 that never was and it’s gonna break hearts."

The fanbase's reaction was exactly as Kole had anticipated—filled with disappointment and shock. Responses such as "Hearing any sort of cancelled project news breaks my heart, but hearing about a cancelled Crash in particular stings harder than anything.." flooded the thread, showcasing the deep emotional connection fans have with the franchise.

Toys For Bob, the developers behind the Crash Bandicoot series, made a significant move earlier this year by splitting from Activision Blizzard to become an independent studio. This transition occurred amidst Activision Blizzard's acquisition by tech giant Microsoft. Despite their newfound independence, Toys For Bob has partnered with Microsoft Xbox for the publishing of their first solo project, though details about this new venture remain under wraps.

The last mainline Crash Bandicoot title, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, was released in 2020 and sold over five million copies, demonstrating the series' enduring popularity. Following this, Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! launched as an endless mobile runner in 2021, and Crash Team Rumble debuted as an online multiplayer game in 2023. The latter concluded its live support in March with a final content update but remains playable on next-gen consoles.

With Toys For Bob now enjoying more creative freedom as an independent studio, the future of Crash Bandicoot 5 remains uncertain. Fans are hopeful that this beloved franchise might yet see a new installment, and hopefully, they won't have to wait too long.