Activision reportedly scrapped Crash Bandicoot 5 featuring Spyro for ‘live service games’
A Crash Bandicoot and Spyro crossover title was reportedly in the works, but it's since been benched for Activision's live-service ambitions.
26th Aug 2024 13:23
Images via Activision
Activision reportedly scrapped Crash Bandicoot 5 featuring Spyro for ‘live service games’
A Crash Bandicoot and Spyro crossover title was reportedly in the works, but it's since been benched for Activision's live-service ambitions.
26th Aug 2024 13:23
Images via Activision
Celebrating its new ownership, Microsoft has rolled out a string of Activision titles onto Game Pass, including beloved franchises like Call of Duty (with Modern Warfare 3 and soon-to-be Black Ops 6) and Crash Bandicoot.
The latter series has three titles on Game Pass now, with the entire N Sane Trilogy landing on the subscription, and leakers claim that Spyro the Dragon and Tony Hawk could soon follow to pad out Activision's portfolio.
While the future of these series appears to be optimistic, reports suggest that we have missed out on quite a collaboration between franchises, as Activision apparently shelved a Crash Bandicoot and Spyro combined title in favour of its "live service" ambitions.
A Crash Bandicoot and Spyro crossover title has reportedly been scrapped
According to gaming historian Liam Robertson, owner of "Did You Know Gaming?" on YouTube, Crash Bandicoot 5 was in development by Toys for Bob before the studio faced mass layoffs and was bought out from Activision, becoming an independent developer.
Robertson claims that the title was originally green-lit by Activision, but soon canned following the disappointing sales of Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. Shortly after, they were moved onto Crash Team Rumble, which faced little success itself.
The big hook was that Crash 5 would have been a crossover title with Spyro the Dragon. "Crash and Spyro were intended to be the two playable characters," Robertson claimed.
Rather than Spyro just gate-crash-ing, it seems like the game was set to be more of a multiverse feeling, where both protagonists would share the game with their respective universes.
Activision reportedly shelved Crash and Spyro for 'live service' ambitions
Activision recently began hiring for a "live-service" game for a brand-new IP, joining many different Call of Duty titles in its catalogue of ongoing games.
This pivot to live-service games might spell the end for the likes of Crash and Spyro, which struggle to be monetised outside of game sales. Given the Game Pass ties between Activision and Xbox now, it seems likely that fewer single-player titles will be coming out of the Activision studios.
Both Crash and Spyro hold a lot of respect in the gaming industry, and would likely be missed if the franchises are laid to rest.
About The Author
Jack Marsh
Jack is an Esports Journalist at GGRecon. Graduating from the University of Chester, with a BA Honours degree in Journalism, Jack is an avid esports enthusiast and specialises in Rocket League, Call of Duty, VALORANT, and trending gaming news.
