Why Crash Bandicoot 5 Was Canceled: Behind the Scenes of Toys For Bob's Lost Sequel

A recent report suggests that Crash Bandicoot 5 by Toys For Bob was canceled due to Activision's decision to redirect the developer's focus toward live-service games. Earlier this year, Crash Bandicoot fans were disappointed to learn that a potential Crash 5 had been in development but was quietly shelved.

The Crash Bandicoot franchise has experienced a rocky history over the past two decades. After a series of mixed-quality games in the mid-2000s and early 2010s, the franchise saw a resurgence with the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. The latter, in particular, was praised for its engaging story and successful revitalization of the classic platforming gameplay. However, following the release of Crash Team Rumble, the series once again lost momentum. In February 2024, Toys For Bob parted ways with Activision, which was followed by the revelation that Crash 5 had been canceled by the publisher. The reasons behind this decision were recently explored in a new report.

In a video by DidYouKnowGaming featuring Liam Robertson, details emerged about what transpired behind the scenes at Toys For Bob and why Crash Bandicoot 5 was ultimately canceled. According to Robertson, the decision was made early in development due to what Activision deemed "underwhelming sales" of Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. Former Toys For Bob designer Tony Schadt disclosed that while Crash 4 sold over five million units, surpassing expectations and achieving financial success, it still failed to meet Activision's lofty standards. As a result, the development of Crash 5 was halted, and Toys For Bob was redirected to support live-service titles like Overwatch 2 and Call of Duty: Warzone. Additionally, the Crash Team Rumble project was repurposed as a live-service title, utilizing assets from Crash 4.

The video also shared insights into the concepts behind the canceled Crash 5. The game was intended to be a direct sequel to Crash 4, with concept art and story drafts revealing plans to revisit the Academy of Evil from Crash Twinsanity as the main setting. The sequel would have featured returning villains like N. Brio, with Crash exploring the minds of these villains, including Dr. Cortex, Pinstripe, and Tiny Tiger.

The most ambitious aspect of the canceled game was the proposed crossover between Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon, orchestrated by Uka Uka. This concept envisioned various possibilities, including the two characters being playable together or separately in a multiversal adventure. Unfortunately, these ideas remained in the concept art stage before the project was canceled, leaving Toys For Bob to support other titles and work on the Crash Team Rumble spin-off.