Crash Bandicoot 5 Allegedly Canceled After Studio Went Indie

Word on the street is that Crash Bandicoot 5 was canceled, according to a former Toys For Bob concept artist. Let's dive into the details of Nicholas Kole's revelation.

Another Project Bites the Dust: "Project Dragon"

Former Toys For Bob concept artist Nicholas Kole hinted at a canceled Crash Bandicoot 5 in a recent X (formerly Twitter) post on July 12th. The post initially discussed Kole's other canceled project, "Project Dragon," sparking speculation (fueled by Sonic comic writer Daniel Barnes) that it was a Spyro title. Kole clarified that "Project Dragon" was an entirely new IP developed with Phoenix Labs, but used the opportunity to mention a similarly-fated Crash project.

"It's not Spyro, but someday folks will hear about the Crash 5 that never was, and it's gonna break hearts," he stated.

Kole's prediction proved accurate; fans reacted with disappointment and shock, with many expressing their heartbreak over the news.

Earlier this year, Crash developer Toys For Bob transitioned from Activision Blizzard to become an independent studio, following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Interestingly, Toys For Bob is now collaborating with Microsoft Xbox to publish their first independent game, though details remain scarce.

The last mainline Crash Bandicoot game, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, launched in 2020 and sold over five million copies. This was followed by the mobile runner Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! (2021) and the multiplayer title Crash Team Rumble (2023), the latter ending its live service in March 2024 with a final update. However, the game remains playable on current-gen consoles.

With Toys For Bob now operating independently, the future of Crash Bandicoot 5 remains uncertain. Only time will tell if this long-awaited sequel will ever materialize, and hopefully, won't leave fans waiting for years to come.