Spyro Nearly Joined Crash Bandicoot 5 as Playable Character

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, detailed by gaming historian Liam Robertson, allegedly stemmed from the perceived underperformance of Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time.

Toys for Bob, known for reviving the Crash Bandicoot franchise, had begun conceptualizing Crash Bandicoot 5 as a single-player 3D platformer. Early designs included a villainous children's school setting and the return of familiar antagonists. Remarkably, concept art revealed Spyro, another PlayStation icon revitalized by Toys for Bob, as a playable character alongside Crash, battling an interdimensional threat. Robertson confirmed, "Crash and Spyro were intended to be the two playable characters."

This cancellation was foreshadowed by former Toys for Bob concept artist Nicholas Kole's X post. Robertson's report suggests Activision's focus on live-service games, coupled with Crash Bandicoot 4's perceived lackluster sales, directly influenced the decision.

Activision's prioritization of live-service titles also impacted other franchises. A planned Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, a sequel to the successful remakes, was reportedly rejected. Vicarious Visions, the studio behind the remakes, was reassigned to Activision's core franchises like Call of Duty and Diablo, effectively ending the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater sequel project. Tony Hawk himself confirmed in Robertson's report that a sequel was planned until Vicarious Visions' absorption into Activision. Subsequently, Activision rejected alternative pitches for the sequel from other studios.

The cancellation of Crash Bandicoot 5 and the shelving of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 highlight Activision's significant shift towards live-service games and away from single-player sequels for established franchises.