Report: Sony Planning Ape Escape Revival, Not by Team Asobi

Sony is reportedly planning to revive the Ape Escape series, which last appeared as PlayStation Move Ape Escape on the PS3 in 2010. The information comes from industry insider NatetheHate, who says Ape Escape is among several dormant Sony franchises the company intends to bring back.

Ape Escape was created by Japan Studio and first released on the original PlayStation in 1999. The franchise’s most recent mainline release centered on PlayStation Move controls for the PS3 and arrived in 2010.

NatetheHate has been hinting at an Ape Escape revival for some time and recently reiterated those claims. The insider asserts the next Ape Escape title will not be developed by Team Asobi, the PlayStation studio known for Astro Bot. Regarding other partners, NatetheHate wrote they are not “100% certain” that Bandai Namco is involved and added they do not believe that publisher is handling the project.

Sony has made several Ape Escape titles available through the PS Plus Premium catalog, where players can access emulated classics on current consoles. Those games are also available for separate purchase on the PlayStation Store, allowing PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owners to play the older entries while any new project remains unannounced.

There is no public confirmation from Sony about a revival, and the company has not identified a developer, platform or release window for a new Ape Escape game. Fans and observers have suggested studios with platformer experience as possible leads, but no official attachments have been reported.

The reports do not include a timetable. If Sony proceeds, the franchise would return after more than a decade without a mainstream release.