Spyro Teased as Playable in Scrapped 'Crash Bandicoot 5'

Activision's shift to live-service games reportedly led to the cancellation of Crash Bandicoot 5, a project already in early development at Toys for Bob. This decision, according to gaming historian Liam Robertson, stemmed from the perceived underperformance of Crash Bandicoot 4 and a company-wide push towards multiplayer titles.

Toys for Bob, known for reviving the Crash Bandicoot franchise, had assembled a team to develop Crash Bandicoot 5, a single-player 3D platformer. Early concepts, including development art, depicted a villainous children's school setting and the return of classic antagonists. A particularly intriguing detail reveals that Spyro, another PlayStation icon revived by Toys for Bob, was intended as a co-playable character alongside Crash, fighting an interdimensional threat affecting both their worlds.

"Crash and Spyro were intended to be the two playable characters," Robertson stated. This revelation follows a previous hint from a former Toys for Bob artist.

Activision's focus on live-service games wasn't limited to the Crash Bandicoot franchise. A proposed Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, a sequel to the successful remakes, was also reportedly rejected. Vicarious Visions, responsible for the remakes, was subsequently absorbed into Activision and reassigned to work on other flagship titles. Tony Hawk himself confirmed that a sequel was planned until Vicarious Visions' absorption. Activision's dissatisfaction with alternative pitches from other studios ultimately sealed the fate of the project.

These cancellations highlight Activision's strategic shift away from single-player titles in favor of the live-service model, impacting beloved franchises and leaving fans disappointed.