Crash 5 Scrapped: Studio Loss Drives Cancellation

News of a potentially canceled Crash Bandicoot 5 has surfaced, hinted at by former Toys For Bob concept artist, Nicholas Kole. Kole's revelation came during a July 12th X (formerly Twitter) post discussing another scrapped project, "Project Dragon." While initially speculated to be Spyro-related, Kole clarified it was an entirely new IP developed with Phoenix Labs. He then added the impactful statement: "It is not Spyro, but some day folks will hear about the Crash 5 that never was and it’s gonna break hearts."

This news understandably upset fans. The cancellation coincides with Toys For Bob's transition to an independent studio after separating from Activision Blizzard earlier this year, following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Interestingly, Toys For Bob is now collaborating with Microsoft Xbox for their debut independent title, though details remain undisclosed.

The last mainline Crash Bandicoot game, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, launched in 2020 and achieved over five million sales. Subsequent releases included the mobile title Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! (2021) and the multiplayer game Crash Team Rumble (2023), the latter ending live support in March 2024.

With Toys For Bob now operating independently, the future of Crash Bandicoot 5 remains uncertain. Whether this potential fifth installment will ever be released is a question only time can answer, leaving fans in anticipation.