A New Sly Cooper Game Could Be Just What Sony Needs
Tonight, a new State of Play presentation is set to unfold, where Sony and its third-party partners will unveil upcoming PS5 titles. While we can expect to see updates on Wolverine and other major releases, there are whispers of a potential revival of a beloved PlayStation 2 classic. Fans of Sly Cooper have been eagerly awaiting the return of the charming raccoon for over a decade, and there’s enough circumstantial evidence suggesting that a fifth installment in the platforming heist series might be in the works. The excitement is palpable, and if the Cooper Gang makes an appearance tonight, it would be a dream come true. If not, I’ll continue to champion Sly Cooper, as it’s the kind of game Sony desperately needs after a string of live-service missteps and inflated budgets on high-profile titles.
Sly fans have faced their fair share of disappointments over the years, so what’s fueling our hopes this time? It’s a collection of subtle hints that could lead to either excitement or letdown. For starters, there are indications that Sony is contemplating something with this long-dormant franchise. Last month, Garrett Fredley, a senior build engineer on PlayStation’s Asset and IP Preservation team, shared on social media about a presentation his team delivered to Sony leadership regarding IP preservation. Notably, Sly Cooper appeared on the first slide alongside other iconic characters.
Whether this means a new game is on the horizon or simply that old titles will become more accessible in innovative ways remains uncertain. However, it’s clear that while original developer Sucker Punch may not be interested in revisiting the series, someone at Sony still remembers the PS2 mascot who found himself stranded in Ancient Egypt due to time travel antics at the end of 2013’s Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time.
But just because Sly appeared in a presentation doesn’t guarantee anything, right? The intrigue runs deeper. What has Sly Cooper fans buzzing for tonight’s State of Play is something a bit more elusive—Sneaky Devil Studios. This new studio was founded by former members of Sanzaru Games, the team behind Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, which was part of Meta’s VR initiative until it closed in January. Their website highlights their previous work on Sly Cooper, as well as other VR projects. While this alone doesn’t confirm anything, there are additional connections that have fans speculating.
For one, the studio’s name could be a nod to the series. In Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves, there’s a post-credits scene where Bentley, Sly’s tech-savvy friend, discovers Sly has been living a quiet life as an amnesiac. When Bentley realizes it’s all an act, he calls Sly a “sneaky devil.”
Adding to the intrigue is a LinkedIn exchange between Sneaky Devil co-founder Mat Kraemer and Sly Cooper voice actor Kevin Miller. Miller congratulated the team on their new venture, and Kraemer hinted at a potential collaboration, which has fans buzzing with anticipation. Team Asobi, the studio behind Astro Bot, also stoked the flames with a post suggesting people check the nearest safe if they can’t find Sly, just hours before the State of Play. The timing, combined with everything else, feels like a breadcrumb trail worth following.
All of this could lead to nothing, but after 13 years of waiting, Sly Cooper fans are ready to cling to any glimmer of hope. We may not be as numerous as those eagerly anticipating a Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer, but we’re passionate. Even if I didn’t personally crave a new Sly Cooper, I believe it could be just what Sony needs right now. The PlayStation 5 era has been marked by disappointments, failed live-service attempts, and remasters that feel like desperate measures after titles like Concord didn’t resonate. With ballooning AAA budgets and a lack of major hits, Sony’s offerings are becoming increasingly costly for players.
Once upon a time, PlayStation’s game lineup was wonderfully diverse. The PS2 era brought us not only big-name titles like Killzone and Shadow of the Colossus but also quirky, smaller games like Sly Cooper and Parappa the Rapper. Nowadays, it seems that major companies like Sony shy away from greenlighting such unique projects, even though indie developers continue to draw inspiration from these classic PlayStation gems. There’s a strong case for mid-tier games to not only succeed but thrive, despite what corporate suits may claim about players only wanting endless games to invest in.
A new Sly Cooper or a fresh Ape Escape may not rake in billions, but with the right expectations, they could fill a crucial gap in PlayStation’s lineup, bridging the gap between blockbuster narrative experiences and the elusive live-service hits. If PlayStation’s internal studios can’t take on these projects, allowing teams like Sneaky Devil Studios to step in could be a smart move. It might not single-handedly boost every financial metric, but it could significantly enrich a catalog that has grown monotonous over the past two generations. Sony once stood out as the most experimental of the major console makers, with teams creating a wide array of games that felt distinct and innovative. The key to reigniting that spark lies right in front of them; they just need to lower their expectations and take a chance on some familiar faces.
