Spyro Almost Co-Starred in a Lost 'Crash Bandicoot' Game

Activision's shift towards live-service games reportedly led to the cancellation of Crash Bandicoot 5, a project in development at Toys for Bob. This decision, detailed by gaming historian Liam Robertson, stemmed from Activision's prioritization of multiplayer titles over single-player experiences.

Crash Bandicoot 4's perceived underperformance allegedly contributed to the cancellation. Toys for Bob, renowned for reviving the Crash Bandicoot franchise, had already begun conceptualizing Crash Bandicoot 5 as a single-player 3D platformer, a direct sequel to its predecessor. Early concepts included a villainous children's school setting and the return of familiar antagonists. Remarkably, Spyro, another PlayStation icon revitalized by Toys for Bob, was slated to be a playable character alongside Crash, battling an interdimensional threat. Concept art depicting this collaboration has surfaced.

The cancellation wasn't isolated. Robertson also revealed that Activision rejected a pitch for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, a sequel to the successful remakes. Vicarious Visions, the studio behind the remakes, was instead reassigned to work on Activision's core franchises like Call of Duty and Diablo. Tony Hawk himself confirmed that a sequel was planned until Vicarious Visions' absorption into Activision, highlighting the company's strategic shift away from single-player sequels. Activision's dissatisfaction with alternative pitches from other studios ultimately sealed the fate of the Tony Hawk sequel. The cancellation of both Crash Bandicoot 5 and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 exemplifies Activision's evolving focus on live-service games.

[Image: Crash Bandicoot 5 concept art 1] [Image: Crash Bandicoot 5 concept art 2] [Image: Crash Bandicoot 5 concept art 3] [Image: Crash Bandicoot 5 concept art 4] [Embedded YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/PzHwPNPW2VM]