A reliable insider has claimed that Sony is bringing back Ape Escape in some capacity, but the project will not be handled by the developer many fans expected. The revelation has sparked speculation about which studio might take on the classic franchise, as well as what form the revival could take.
Insider hints at Ape Escape revival
Earlier this year, insider NateTheHate said Sony was 'exploring and considering' bringing back some of its older IP, without naming specific franchises. Now, responding to a question on ResetEra about a new Ape Escape, he replied with side eye emojis and added: 'As I said a while ago, Sony is looking to bring back some dormant franchises.'
However, NateTheHate has ruled out the involvement of Team Asobi, the developer behind Astro Bot, despite the tribute level in their last game that played similarly to the original. He also dismissed Bandai Namco, which has published revivals of Sony franchises like Everybody's Golf in recent years. He did note that he would have to 'check further to be 100%' because it has 'been a while' since he last checked on the project.
What this means for Astro Bot and PlayStation
If Team Asobi is not working on Ape Escape, it almost certainly means the studio is developing a sequel to Astro Bot instead. The original Astro Bot, which sold around 4 million copies, won numerous game of the year awards in 2024.
The nature of the Ape Escape return remains unclear, whether it will be a remake, a new entry with a sizeable budget, or something else. Sony has few studios left known for family-friendly games, aside from Media Molecule, so the project may be outsourced to an external studio. Currently, only a few future PlayStation exclusives are known to exist, including Until Dawn 2, God Of War Laufey, and Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, with Naughty Dog also working on two new Last Of Us titles and, according to rumours, a secret Uncharted revival.
