Discover the intriguing story behind the shelving of Crash Bandicoot 5, as shared by former Toys For Bob concept artist Nicholas Kole. Dive in to uncover more about what the game could have been!

Crash Bandicoot 5 Supposedly Shelved

‘Project Dragon’ Also Scrapped

The gaming community was left buzzing when former Toys For Bob concept artist Nicholas Kole hinted at the cancellation of Crash Bandicoot 5 in an X (Twitter) post on July 12th. While discussing another shelved project named "Project Dragon," Kole sparked speculation from fans and industry insiders like Sonic comic writer Daniel Barnes, who guessed it might be Spyro-related due to its name. Kole swiftly clarified that "Project Dragon" was not Spyro but a fresh IP developed with Phoenix Labs. He then dropped the bombshell about Crash Bandicoot 5, suggesting it met a similar fate.

"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, leaving fans in dismay.

As predicted, the reactions in the replies were filled with heartbreak and shock. Fans expressed their disappointment with comments like, "Hearing any sort of cancelled project news breaks my heart, but hearing about a cancelled Crash in particular stings harder than anything.."

Toys For Bob, the developer behind the Crash series, parted ways with Activision Blizzard to become an independent studio earlier this year. This move coincided with Activision Blizzard's acquisition by Microsoft. Despite their independence, Toys For Bob has entered a partnership with Microsoft Xbox to publish their first standalone game, though specifics about the project remain under wraps.

The most recent mainline Crash Bandicoot game, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, launched in 2020 and achieved impressive sales of over five million copies. Subsequent releases included the mobile endless runner Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! in 2021 and the online multiplayer Crash Team Rumble in 2023, the latter concluding its live support in March with a final content update. Despite this, Crash Team Rumble remains playable on next-gen consoles.

With Toys For Bob now enjoying the freedom of being an independent studio, the future of Crash Bandicoot 5 remains uncertain. Fans eagerly await news, hoping not to be kept waiting for too long.