Crash 5 and Phoenix Labs Project Reportedly Canceled

Crash 5 and Phoenix Labs Project Reportedly Canceled

Highlights

  • According to a developer who worked on both games, Crash Bandicoot 5 and Project Dragon have been canceled, leaving fans heartbroken.
  • The developer, Nicholas Kole, says that fans will be disappointed when they eventually learn about the “Crash 5 that never was.”
  • Additionally, Project Dragon’s status as a blocky crafting game could have made it a hit with Minecraft fan’s, but the team that developed it made multiple failed attempts to save it.

As a long-time gamer and fan of the Crash Bandicoot franchise, I’m absolutely devastated by the recent news that not one, but two anticipated games have been canceled. According to Nicholas Kole, who worked on Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, both Crash Bandicoot 5 and Project Dragon are no longer in development.


According to a former artist involved in the creation of “Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time,” a proposed fifth installment in the series and a new project titled “Project Dragon” from Phoenix Labs have unfortunately been scrapped in secrecy. This disappointing revelation comes as a significant blow to devoted fans of “Crash Bandicoot.”

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve witnessed the rollercoaster ride that is the Crash Bandicoot franchise over the last decade. The remake trilogy and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time brought back fond memories with their polished gameplay and engaging stories. These titles were a breath of fresh air, revitalizing the classic platforming experience I once loved. However, despite receiving critical acclaim, the franchise faced another downturn after Crash Team Rumble. With Toys for Bob’s departure from Activision, there was hope that Crash and Spyro could make a grand comeback. Sadly, it seems one potential project for Crash 5 has been shelved.

In a detailed Twitter conversation, illustrator and character designer Nicholas Kole disclosed information about two abandoned video game projects. For three years, his team had been developing “Project Dragon,” but unfortunately, efforts to salvage it proved unsuccessful. This announcement left some followers puzzled, as they assumed “Project Dragon” was a code name for a new Spyro game. However, Kole clarified this misconception and went on to reveal that Crash Bandicoot 5 had also been canceled at an earlier stage.

Project Dragon and Crash Bandicoot 5 Were Canceled, According to Nicholas Cole

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It is possible that the source of misunderstanding arises from Toys for Bob’s arrangement with Xbox for a new game in early 2023, causing some to assume incorrectly that it involved the “Spyro” or “Crash Bandicoot” series. Kole clarifies that these were unrelated projects being developed at separate studios. However, he laments that people will learn about the abandoned “Crash 5” project and be disappointed.

At Phoenix Labs, a project was unexpectedly scrapped, as announced by Kole on Twitter. He described it as a snug multiplayer role-playing game with a crafting aspect, featuring dragons as a primary element. The game bore resemblance to “Minecraft” in its blocky construction and drew inspiration from “Zelda: Breath of the Wild” for its quest design. Unfortunately, this unnamed project, known only by its Project Dragon codename, left many mourning the loss of both games Kole had been involved with.

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2024-07-14 23:33