It’s official: Crash Bandicoot is coming to your smartphone. As of July 9, Crash Bandicoot: On The Run! is available for pre-registration for Android users globally.
Earlier this week, fans spotted a Twitter account dedicated to a yet-to-be-announced mobile game based on the 24-year-old Crash Bandicoot franchise. On Thursday, developer King (best known for Candy Crush Saga) broke their silence and opened pre-registration. Pre-registration will be available for Android now and iOS “soon,” according to a press release.
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Some fans have already been able to play this game, but only in Malaysia. Stephen Jarrett, Vice President of Game Design at King and Creative Lead for the upcoming game, told me in an email that this regional offering was a playtest for the upcoming game, which will include new mechanics and bosses, for starters.
“We’ve done some early testing in a couple of markets,” said Jarrett. “The playtest really exceeded our expectations and it was great to see fans of the franchise embrace the game.”
On the Run! will take a different format than endless runners that gamers are used to. With decades of material to draw from, Jarrett said the game will include a lot of variety throughout its levels, including allies, bosses, enemies, and regions that longtime fans will be familiar with. The game will also include both single-player and multiplayer modes.
“Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! is a runner game but it’s not an endless runner,” he said. “We’ve really tried to transform the runner experience by adding depth and progression to the game so players can unlock lands to explore, discovering secrets and challenges.”
The game will be free to play but—you guessed it—microtransactions will be available for players who want to purchase skins and other cosmetic items. It’s a contrast from another Crash Bandicoot game coming out in 2020: Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, a platformer developed by Toys for Bob, has made headlines by promising zero microtransactions.
Twenty-four years after Crash first bounded onto the original PlayStation in his 1996 debut, it’s shaping up to be a major year for this mutant marsupial, with both a platformer and a mobile game on the way. Interested fans can pre-register for the mobile game in order to receive bonus items when the game launches later this year.
Here’s a description of the game’s story from a press release from King:
“In Crash Bandicoot: On the Run!, the dastardly Dr. Neo Cortex has returned to take control of the multiverse, with the help of his maniacal mutagen henchmen. Only Crash and his sister Coco can save the day and put a stop to their plans. Video game fans will immediately recognize regions from previous Crash Bandicoot games, such as Temple Ruins, Turtle Woods, Bear It and more.”
I’m a professional journalist and avid student of fan culture. My reporting has appeared on CNN, PBS, the Daily Dot, and numerous other outlets. My blog, Otaku
I’m a professional journalist and avid student of fan culture. My reporting has appeared on CNN, PBS, the Daily Dot, and numerous other outlets. My blog, Otaku Journalist, is a resource for geek and fandom reporters. My latest book, Cosplay: The Fantasy World of Role Play, was published in May 2015.