Rumor: Sony has acquired Crash Bandicoot [Update]

Here’s a fun rumor (that we hope to almighty is true)—Crash Bandicoot might be leaving Activision for Sony. Here’s the story.

Last week, a PlayStation 4 launch trailer featured subtle imagery suggesting Crash was ‘going to’ Sony. Have a look at the image on the right. To the left, you’ll see the shot from the trailer, and to the right, what it seems to suggest.

Some are saying they see the Activision logo on the trash bin, but frankly, I don’t. Though, the trash bin might suggest the series leaving the dump (there hasn’t been a new Crash since 2008, suggesting Activision might have retired the series).

Then yesterday, Reddit user CocoBandicoot reported Activision removing all traces of Crash Bandicoot from its official website (try looking for yourself, there’s nothing), and shutting down the official Crash Bandicoot website.

Asked on Twitter if a Crash Bandicoot game for PlayStation 4 was in the cards, Sony Computer Entertainment VP of publisher and developer relations Adam Boyes said, “Activision owns the IP, so you should ask them about it…”

So Videogamer.com editor David Scammell did just that. He reported on Twitter, “Earlier today I asked Activision whether it still held the rights to the Crash Bandicoot license. Answer: ‘No comment.'”

Obviously, this is all just a big rumor for now. So take it with a load of salt. But it should be fun to see where this goes, if it goes anywhere at all.

Thanks, NeoGAF.

Update: Activision has told Game Informer that it still owns the Crash Bandicoot IP.

“Activision owns Crash Bandicoot and we continue to explore ways in which we could bring the beloved series back to life,” a representative said.