Crash Bandicoot 5: Cancellation Rumors Swirl Amid Studio's Independence

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

Another Canceled Project: "Project Dragon"

Former Toys For Bob concept artist Nicholas Kole recently revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that "Project Dragon," a canceled project he worked on, was not a Spyro game, as some speculated, but a new IP with Phoenix Labs. In the same post (July 12th), he cryptically mentioned a canceled Crash Bandicoot 5, predicting it would be heartbreaking news for fans. His prediction proved accurate, with fans expressing significant disappointment online.

"It is not Spyro, but some day folks will hear about the Crash 5 that never was and it’s gonna break hearts," Kole stated.

The news follows Toys For Bob's transition to an independent studio after separating from Activision Blizzard earlier this year, a time when Activision Blizzard itself was acquired by Microsoft. While Toys For Bob is now collaborating with Microsoft Xbox for their next project, details remain scarce.

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

With Toys For Bob's newfound independence, the possibility of a future Crash Bandicoot 5 remains uncertain. Only time will tell if this highly anticipated sequel will eventually be revived.