Crash Bandicoot 5: Development Purportedly Halted

A former Toys For Bob concept artist hints at a canceled Crash Bandicoot 5. Read on for details on the claims made by Nicholas Kole and the impact on fans.

Another Project Bites the Dust: "Project Dragon"

Former Toys For Bob concept artist Nicholas Kole revealed on X (formerly Twitter) on July 12th that a Crash Bandicoot 5 project was shelved. This revelation followed discussion of another canceled project, "Project Dragon," initially speculated to be Spyro-related due to its title. Kole clarified it was an original IP developed with Phoenix Labs, but the cancellation prompted him to mention the fate of the unannounced Crash Bandicoot 5.

Kole's comment, "It is not Spyro, but some day folks will hear about the Crash 5 that never was and it’s gonna break hearts," sparked significant fan disappointment, as predicted. Many expressed their sadness 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. While Toys For Bob is now partnered with Microsoft Xbox for publishing their next game, details remain scarce.

The last mainline Crash Bandicoot game, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (2020), achieved over five million sales. Subsequent releases included Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! (2021) and Crash Team Rumble (2023), the latter concluding its live service in March 2024. Despite this, Crash Team Rumble remains playable.

With Toys For Bob's newfound independence, the possibility of a Crash Bandicoot 5 remains uncertain. Only time will tell if this highly anticipated sequel will ever materialize, and hopefully, the wait won't be excessively long for anxious fans.