Recent reports that Toys For Bob, developer of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time and Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, had been moved over to support development on Call of Duty: Warzone caused an immense uproar from fans. Many believed that this shift signaled the death of the newly revived mascots, but persistent rumors and speculation seem to say otherwise.
2021 marks the 25th anniversary of Crash Bandicoot, and publisher Activision has promised “fun happenings” to celebrate. The mascot’s social media channels have been celebrating with the #Crash25before25 trend, and voice actors Scott Whyte and Lex Lang, who portray Crash and Cortex, have teased fans with a brand new secret project. It seems likely that whatever this project is, it is related to the anniversary.
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One possibility for the brand is a sequel to 2019’s Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled. This remake was developed by Beenox, a studio that is most definitely working on something new. A CTR sequel is possible, with new characters, locations and designs from It’s About Time ripe for use in another spin-off. Beenox’s unannounced project adds to this speculation, as many expect the studio to work on any potential sequel to its 2019 title. While entirely possible, this logic doesn’t completely hold up. Crash’s three most recent releases were all developed by different studios, meaning that if Beenox is working on a new project for Crash’s anniversary, there is no guarantee it will be another cart racer.
Many fans are predicting a Crash Bandicoot 5, and while such a massive project would be a fitting release for an anniversary year, it may simply be too soon for a new mainline entry. A 2021 release for a sequel to It’s About Time would likely not be developed by Toys For Bob, so it is entirely possible it could be ready for release. However, such a move would risk oversaturating the franchise, a mistake Activision has already made with Skylanders and Call of Duty. A mainline sequel seems the least likely option for a 2021 release, though the announcement of such a project for a 2022 release alongside an anniversary game would be a smart move for the publisher.
There’s also the Super Smash Bros. series, where whether Crash deserved a spot on the roster has been hotly debated for years, even before the series made a return in 2017. If there were ever a time for such a momentous development for the bandicoot, it would be his 25th anniversary. Crash now has a significant presence on the Nintendo Switch, and it would make sense for both Nintendo and Activision to make his appearance in Smash possible. The fact that Lex Lang is working on the mystery project reveals that Cortex is involved, and if the big secret is that Crash will make it to Smash, then perhaps Cortex will be featured in the game.
The most likely release for 2021 is probably the long-rumored Wumpa League. This multiplayer Crash title has been hotly discussed ever since the discovery of an easter egg in Crash 4, a mysterious logo currently believed to be related to the game. The game is supposedly conceived as a standalone multiplayer add-on for Crash 4, utilizing many of the same assets. Whatever Wumpa League ends up being, it is the most consistently discussed release for the orange marsupial, with numerous leaks mentioning the game.
It seems unlikely that Crash will be going anywhere anytime soon, considering Activision’s social media celebration of the bandicoot’s birthday. If Crash were truly in trouble and the franchise was in danger of being shelved, then there would be no reason for Activision to draw attention to the franchise still. While it seems most likely that Crash will celebrate with the release of Wumpa League, anything is possible considering the occasion. Fans will have to wait and see what Activision will announce. With E3 just around the corner, Crash’s anniversary and his future may be discussed there.
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