The Return Of Crash Bandicoot?

Crash Bandicoot – A Return to Its Roots?

Crash Bandicoot, arguably one of the most iconic franchises in PlayStation history, is once again the subject of fresh rumours. Word has it that a brand-new game is in development—one that takes the series back to its roots. Even more intriguing is the claim that it’s a PlayStation 4 exclusive, and that none other than Naughty Dog—the very studio that created Crash back in 1996—is behind the project.

Of course, this isn’t the first time such rumours have made the rounds. I remember the buzz from late 2013 into 2014. I’ll admit, I believed the hype back then. But in hindsight, it all seems unlikely—especially since the studio supposedly working on the game at the time had already shut down just weeks before the “leak” appeared.

At one point, Amazon even had a pre-order listing for the supposed “reboot” of Crash Bandicoot. Which version of the game this referred to—or whether it was even a legitimate listing at all—remains a complete mystery.

Where did Amazon get the info from? Who leaked it? I suppose we’ll never really know. But if it was real, and that bizarre-looking Crash design we saw was what they planned to use in-game… well, that’s a terrifying thought. (Personally, I think it looked awful.)

There was also another notable leak, this time from PlayStation Middle East—the same team infamous for leaking just about everything, sometimes even releasing games ahead of schedule. Given how well the first four Crash games sold in the region, it’s possible it was all part of a marketing stunt. Either way, the rumour was quickly shut down.

No details or official explanations ever followed, leaving the whole situation as mysterious as it was brief.

Just a couple of months ago, a fan-made project surfaced online, showcasing what a Crash Bandicoot game might look like if it were built using Unreal Engine 4. While the visuals are certainly impressive, the overall presentation feels a bit too clean and lifeless, lacking the charm and character of the originals. Still, it’s an exciting concept.

The video quickly went viral, racking up over 200,000 views in no time, and the accompanying forum discussion exploded with enthusiasm. I’m not sure what the view count is now, but judging by the buzz on Facebook, this fan project has certainly added fuel to the growing Crash Bandicoot hype.

Of course, there’s no chance Sony, Activision, or Vicarious Visions will ever allow this unofficial project to be released. But hopefully, they’re paying attention. The message is clear: fans are desperate for a proper new Crash game, and the demand isn’t going away any time soon.

Just when I thought things had gone quiet on the official Crash Bandicoot front, a new image suddenly appeared—alongside a fresh wave of intriguing leaks and rumours. Is it real? Did Sony actually license a new Crash game? The render itself looked rough and a bit amateurish, but the buzz it generated on the forums was impossible to ignore. Naturally, I had to dig deeper.

According to the rumours, Sony had secured the rights for a brand-new Crash Bandicoot title—not just another HD remaster of the PS1 or PS2 classics, but a completely original game for the PlayStation 4. Some forum posts even claimed that a graphic artist from Santa Monica Studio was already working on level designs, and that a redesigned Crash had been finalised for this new outing.

A few weeks later, the excitement flared up again—the forums lit up with hundreds of comments within just a couple of hours, all sparked by the image you see above.

The rumour this time? Naughty Dog was back at the helm, developing a new title called Crash Bandicoot Returns. The image looked convincing, featuring a well-rendered Crash along with the rest of the classic crew. It was easy to see why people got so worked up—it actually looked believable.

Then came the moment that sent the community into overdrive: Randy Falk appeared at Toy Fair 2016 wearing a Crash Bandicoot T-shirt and casually dropped the bombshell, “Sony is bringing back Crash Bandicoot, and we’d love to do merchandise for it.” That wasn’t long ago at all. Of course, he quickly followed up by claiming he’d simply seen a fan-made image and thought it was real before stepping on stage… but was that just damage control to avoid spoiling an official reveal?

Meanwhile, Facebook is still buzzing. New artwork, rumours, and fan theories keep flooding in—proof that the Crash Bandicoot fanbase is still massive and passionately engaged. But the big question remains: is this game real?

Is the newly surfaced art simply fan-made, or is it based on something legitimate? And if it is just fan art, why are both Activision and Sony staying so quiet? Surely by now, they must see how the internet—and especially Facebook—is crying out for answers.

To make things even more interesting, Sony themselves added fuel to the fire by featuring Crash in their teaser materials and 20th-anniversary celebrations. Many fans, myself included, believe they’re trying to stir up enough hype to make us believe something official is on the way.

The images above are definitely fan art, and old ones at that. There are countless similar pieces circulating online, but for now, I’ve chosen to include just these two.

So, do I want a new Crash Bandicoot game? Absolutely. And even if it’s not developed by Sony or Naughty Dog, I’d still welcome it with open arms. That said, I really hope it doesn’t end up as some kind of Skylanders-style spin-off… though sadly, that seems like a real possibility.

Just to be clear—this article isn’t intended to spark new rumours. I simply wanted to share my perspective and reflect on how massive and passionate the global reaction has been. After all, how can a forum thread with over 17,000 posts in just two years be anything but remarkable—even if it’s all just speculation and wishful thinking?

Thanks for reading, and here’s hoping Crash truly makes his return.