Sony seems ready to restart the Crash Bandicoot cycle all over again, as group president Andrew House has admitted in an interview with British newspaper The Telegraph that the platform holder’s open to bringing back old mascots such as the Naughty Dog spinster. There were strong rumours earlier in the year that the Japanese giant had acquired the rights to the platforming brand from current owner Activision, but they were eventually shot down. However, the firm has said that it's slowly beginning to change its stance on old franchises.
“In concept, it's something that we've been thinking about and discussing, and this is a shift for us,” House said when asked about past properties. “We've started to say that maybe there isn't anything wrong with going back and looking at characters that people still talk about, that were a big part of either their childhood or their youth. I definitely wouldn't close the door on that.”
There was a moment during this year’s E3 2014 press conference where the manufacturer mentioned classic rhythm game Vib-Ribbon on several occasions, but it didn’t have a new entry to unveil. Alas, these are encouraging comments coming out of the company, because they insinuate that the likes of PaRappa the Rapper, Jak & Daxter, and more could all potentially put in return appearances in the future.
Sadly, the example that’s looking least likely right now is Crash Bandicoot, as separate reports indicate that Naughty Dog wanted to include the character in a 30th Anniversary fan art content – but Activision declined. We’re secretly hopeful that Sony’s busy trying to wrangle the rights to the property behind-the-scenes, but even though the franchise is all but dead under the aforementioned organisation’s stewardship, it just doesn’t seem to want to sell the series on.
[source telegraph.co.uk]
Comments 22
I miss Crash & want him back (but only as a PS Exclusive really)
Seems petty to keep hold of the rights to the game when there isn't anything being done with them. Personally I never liked CB but there are masses of gamers of a similar age to me who would love to revisit PS1 days with new entries or reboots of the old franchises. I'd quite like some new Jak and Daxter.
The first Crash Bandicoot game was awesome, but it kind of drifted away from that orginal idea to something a bit different which I didn't like.
Crash and Spyro are my childhood! A come back like their former glory would be fantastic!
@spyro202 I just want Spyro. That was the first GBA game I ever had that wasn't Pokemon (I was and still am addicted to Pokemon).
I still feel sad that Crash did not make it to PS All Stars, after being kinda considered the PS1 mascot.
That said, I only played the Naughty Dog made games. Hated the character but loved the games.
Why are Activision such D-bags? Just give him back to Sony!
I can see them putting Crash into Skylanders just spit those that want Crash back at Playstation, I don't know what Activision want really, they can easily licence the character out to Sony no problem. It's easy money for them surely?
Seriously give them crash! I want crash 4 and ctr 2 sooo bad.
@sinalefa Yeah that was disappointing, and most of the characters in that game I wouldn't consider "All-Stars".
So Activision is gonna keep holding the game until everyone forgets about it?
I so would love to see a Spryo game go back to the way there were on the PSone, sadly though I don't see that happen anytime soon since along with CoD, Skylanders is a cash cow for Activision now.
I want Crash back, but only if Naughty Dog makes it.
I had a PS1 growing up and Crash games were always some of my favorites, but Crash post PS1 really was all down hill. I remember playing only one or two on Xbox and I recall they were pretty bad.
When/why/how did Activision acquire the rights to the character, if Naughty Dog was the company that started it all?
I would LOVE to see Naughty Dog get it's old IP back and hit the drawing board fresh for PS4.
Naughty Dog & Sony never had Crash or Spyro in the first place. ND/Insomniac Games had a [numbered] game development deal and Sony had a [numbered] publishing deal, which both expirated. These franchises were technically owned by three companies. Universal, Vivendi Games (merger with Activision) and the current owner is Activision because of the merger. During all this the franchises got farmed out to several developers, which explains the differing quality between products.
Sony could always create a spiritual successor, because a partnership with Activision is just odd. They will partner up with Destiny, but a dormant character(s) cannot be loaned for PS All Stars or 30 anniversary art content. They will just have to do what Bamco did with Dark Souls or what Comcept did with Mighty No 9.
Crash was one of the first games I played on ps1 that really impressed me from the sounds to the visuals it was a solid platformer
I only got to play medievil, ape escape, spyro, and the legend of dragoon when I got my ps1 back in the day. So I never got to experience crash. But recently Sony had a sale for all the crash ps1 games so I bought them all. I got to say the first game is definitely a cool classic but it was tough as crap. If I had gotten to play that when I was little I wouldn't have been able to beat that many levels. But I would be interested in seeing a new crash game on ps4. Seems like it would be fun.
I actaully preferred the first Jak & Daxter to any of the Crash games, but then Naughty Dog took the series in a direction I wasn't fond of. I'm glad they're talking about bringing back some 'legacy' franchises though. Syphon Filter has been on the shelf for a while and it would be awesome if the long overdue sequel to Logan's Shadow is announced for PS4 soon.
Acti is using him and he hasn't appeare in a game since 2009, so Sony should buy him back.
I want another Crash game dammit.
I've recently been re-living my Bandicoot Childhood by playing Crash 2, using my PS3. I bought it a while back in one of my swapmeet trips - man, I love living here in Mexico just so I can have access to masterpieces like the original Crash series.
I've recently been re-living my Bandicoot Childhood by playing Crash 2, using my PS3. I bought it a while back in one of my swapmeet trips - man, I love living here in Mexico just so I can have access to masterpieces like the original Crash series.
I too miss crash and would like a Crash 4 and CTR2.
Was never a fan of Crash, and I only ever played demos of some of the games. But I think Sony really needs to get ownership of him, and add him to their meager stockpile of recognisable IPs. To me it seems Activision is IP trolling. Sony is also at fault for not being forward thinking regarding PSone IP hits though. They could have grabbed the rights. Maybe they have. I hope they have.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...