A potential Crash Bandicoot 5 may have been scrapped, according to hints dropped by former Toys For Bob concept artist, Nicholas Kole. Kole's revelation emerged during a July 12th X (formerly Twitter) post discussing another canceled project, "Project Dragon." While initially speculated to be Spyro-related, Kole clarified it was a new IP developed with Phoenix Labs. He then alluded to a similarly fate-sealed Crash Bandicoot 5, predicting fan disappointment. "It is not Spyro, but some day folks will hear about the Crash 5 that never was and it’s gonna break hearts," he stated. The ensuing fan reaction on X mirrored his prediction, expressing significant dismay.

Earlier this year, Crash developer Toys For Bob transitioned from Activision Blizzard to an independent studio following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Interestingly, Toys For Bob is now collaborating with Microsoft Xbox for their first independent title, though details remain undisclosed.

The last mainline Crash Bandicoot game, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time (2020), achieved over five million sales. Subsequent releases included Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! (2021) and Crash Team Rumble (2023), the latter ending live support in March 2024. However, Crash Team Rumble remains playable.

With Toys For Bob's newfound independence, the future of Crash Bandicoot 5 remains uncertain. Whether this potential fifth installment will ever materialize remains to be seen, leaving fans in a state of anticipation.