Crash Bandicoot 5 has never looked more likely as Activision drops 30th anniversary tease

Crash Bandicoot was once a titan of the gaming world; the fact that the character has been left to languish over the years is, well, quite criminal.

Originally a product of Naughty Dog, this classic IP should be going head-to-head with the likes of Astro Bot and Mario under its current Microsoft and Activision ownership.

It’s hardly been doing that, though. Instead, we’ve had the lacklustre live-service Crash Team Rumble, which arrived in 2023, plus Crash Bandicoot’s recent appearance in Fortnite.

The latter, admittedly, is pretty cool. Crash Team Rumble, on the other hand, isn’t worth your time - and it’s no real surprise that developers stopped supporting the game with new content less than a year after launch.

What we’re all really after, however, is a new mainline Crash Bandicoot game, and when it comes to Crash Bandicoot 5, that long-awaited sequel is looking about as likely as it’s ever been.

Crash Bandicoot is in the midst of celebrating its 30th anniversary, with the first game having debuted on September 9, 1996.

To mark this special month getting underway, the official Crash Bandicoot Twitter/X channel has posted 30th anniversary artwork, adding, “It’s almost time to Crash the party! Crash is turning 30! Join us in celebrating this N.Sane milestone all month long.”

With more surprises teased to be on the way throughout the remainder of the month, you can perhaps understand why fans are quick to murmur about the possibility of a new game.

Crash Bandicoot 5 tops our wishlist, but gamers are also eager for new remakes

Crash Bandicoot 5 was once actually in development but only at a conceptual phase; it’s purely speculative, but there would be no better time for those plans to finally come to fruition than now.

It isn’t merely the anniversary that makes Crash’s return feel likely. His appearance in Fortnite is also suspicious.

The worst-case scenario is that there’s no new game planned, with Crash’s Fortnite appearance merely a way to showcase the character amid this anniversary period.

Alternatively, though, the character’s Fortnite appearance could be a way to slowly reintroduce the character back into the world of gaming ahead of a larger comeback.

There is a State of Play showcase on the way tomorrow, September 3, but with Crash Bandicoot now under Microsoft’s ownership, it’s unlikely he’s going to surface there.

Rumours also point to a Nintendo Direct happening on September 10, but that doesn’t necessarily feel like a likely reveal possibility either.

Of course, we are gaslighting ourselves. Crash’s 30th anniversary month could just consist of social media posts, trips down memory lane, and perhaps some free desktop backgrounds.

READ MORE: Crash Bandicoot fans rejoice, Twinsanity is getting a remake

Whatever the team’s plans are, they’re likely set in stone, but that hasn’t stopped Crash Bandicoot fans from sharing their wishlists.

“Bring this CHAD back. It’s time!” said zeodeon in response to the anniversary post, adding an image of Crash Bash.

It’s time to remake this legend game,” added fn_alfren, showcasing Crash of the Titans.

“Perfect time to announce a new game, just saying,” said storm__master, while thekiwidragon added, “You’ve got a new game. Right?”

Already, 00s icon Spyro has made his return with Spyro: A Realm Beyond set to launch in spring of 2027.

Let’s hope that Crash Bandicoot is about to follow in his footsteps. It’s what he deserves.