Reports indicate that Evening Star, the studio behind the critically acclaimed <em>Sonic Mania</em>, may be developing a new installment in the <em>Ape Escape</em> series. This would mark the return of the franchise for the first time in over 15 years, with the last mainline entry, <em>Ape Escape 3</em>, releasing in 2005.
The initial whispers of a potential revival originated from game journalist Jeff Gerstmann, who stated on his show that he had heard discussions about an <em>Ape Escape</em> resurrection. These claims have since been corroborated by <em>VGC</em>, which cites its own sources also pointing to Evening Star's involvement.
<em>Ape Escape</em> first launched in 1999 for the original PlayStation. The third-person 3D platformer tasked players with capturing escaped apes using a variety of gadgets and vehicles. The original game was a commercial and critical success, leading to a number of sequels and spin-offs across various PlayStation consoles.
This potential <em>Ape Escape</em> revival is part of a broader strategy by Sony to re-examine its dormant franchises. Reports suggest the company is also considering bringing back the <em>Killzone</em> series, which has been inactive since 2013's <em>Killzone Shadow Fall</em>. Separately, rumors have also surfaced regarding a new entry in the <em>Uncharted</em> series, which would be nearing a decade since its last release.
Historically, the <em>Ape Escape</em> series has been tied to PlayStation's hardware innovations. The original game was the first PlayStation title to require the DualShock controller. Subsequent entries utilized peripherals like the EyeToy and PlayStation Move. There is speculation that a new <em>Ape Escape</em> could leverage the advanced features of the PlayStation 5's DualSense controller, which has seen limited use in this capacity since the console's launch.