Crash Bandicoot 5 Allegedly Canceled After Studio Went Indie

A potential Crash Bandicoot 5 may have been scrapped, according to former Toys For Bob concept artist, Nicholas Kole. Kole's revelation came amidst discussion of another canceled project, "Project Dragon," on X (formerly Twitter). While "Project Dragon" was clarified as a new IP with Phoenix Labs, not Spyro as initially speculated, Kole hinted at a similar fate for a planned Crash Bandicoot 5. His 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 considerable disappointment among fans.

The news follows Toys For Bob's departure from Activision Blizzard earlier this year to become an independent studio, coinciding with Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. While Toys For Bob is now partnering with Microsoft Xbox for future publishing endeavors, details about their first independent title remain undisclosed.

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 of which concluded its live service in March 2024.

With Toys For Bob's newfound independence, the possibility of a future Crash Bandicoot 5 remains uncertain, leaving fans in anticipation.