Crash Bandicoot 5 Supposedly Shelved

‘Project Dragon’ Also Scrapped

The gaming community might have missed out on a new installment in the beloved Crash Bandicoot series, as hinted by former Toys For Bob concept artist Nicholas Kole. In a July 12th X (Twitter) post, Kole discussed his canceled project, "Project Dragon," which sparked speculation from Sonic comic writer Daniel Barnes that it might be related to Spyro due to its name. However, Kole clarified that "Project Dragon" was a new IP developed with Phoenix Labs and not connected to Spyro. In the same thread, Kole dropped a bombshell about Crash Bandicoot, hinting at the cancellation of Crash Bandicoot 5.

"It is not Spyro, but some day folks will hear about the Crash 5 that never was and it’s gonna break hearts," Kole stated.

The fan reaction was exactly as Kole predicted—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 replies, showcasing the deep emotional connection fans have with the series.

Toys For Bob, the developer behind Crash Bandicoot, parted ways with Activision Blizzard earlier this year to become an independent studio. This move coincided with Activision Blizzard's acquisition by Microsoft. Despite their newfound independence, Toys For Bob is collaborating with Microsoft Xbox for the publishing of their first independent game, though details about this project remain under wraps.

The most recent mainline Crash Bandicoot game, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, was released in 2020 and sold over five million copies. Subsequent releases included the mobile endless runner Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! in 2021 and the online multiplayer game Crash Team Rumble 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 operating as an independent studio, there's renewed hope among fans that Crash Bandicoot 5 might still see the light of day. Only time will tell if this beloved franchise will return to delight fans once more.