The video game industry has been around long enough that revivals of nostalgic IPs can become widespread. Microsoft increasingly showcases its interest in returning to old franchises, for instance. Studios are working onnewFableandPerfect Darkgames, both of which haven’t been in the public eye for a long time. As revivals like these get more common, some fans wonder if their favorite dormant game franchises will make a comeback too. One franchise with optimistic fans isSly Cooper,a stealth platforming franchise once central to the PlayStation game library that’s nowhere to be found these days.
Fans ofSly Cooperhave even more reason to be optimistic, as a reputable leaker claims thatSly Cooper 5is in development. A newSly Coopergame is long overdue - there hasn’t been a new entry in the series since 2013. Although it’s not certain that theSly Cooper 5leaks are real, there’s plenty of reasons that Sony should go back to this franchise. From positive receptions to franchise reboots to the advent of the PS5,Sly Cooperwould be welcome to rejoin the PlayStation library and reclaim its previous place of fame among Sony IPs.
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Sly Cooper’s Big Opportunity
Sly Cooperhas a significant market available partially because of its nature as a 3D platformer. In the early 2000s,Sly Cooperformed a trio of acclaimed 3D platformers withJak and DaxterandRatchet and Clank.Jax and Daxterhas also fallen away, butRatchet and Clankis doing better than ever thanks toRatchet and Clank: Rift Aparton the PS5.Rift Aparthelps establish the presence of classic Sony 3D platformers on Sony’s current console thanks to its positive reception.Rift Aparthas proven there’s a market for its genre among PS5 users, soSly Cooper 5could capitalize on the same fanbase.
The PS5 could useSly Cooperin a broader sense. Sony has some big exclusive games, with fanslooking forward toHorizon Forbidden West, God of War: Ragnarok,and futureSpider-Mangames, but console developers never stop competing to assemble the best library of exclusive titles. So long as Sony has exclusive access toSly Cooper,it has a major selling point for the PS5.Sly Cooper 5exclusively on PS5 would be one more title that makes Sony’s next-gen console worth buying.
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Sly Cooper Deserves a Second Wind
The context and reputation of theSly Cooperfranchise also begs for a fifth game in the series. The last game,Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time,ends on a cliffhanger, meaning there’s a perfect opportunity for a developer to pick the story back up.Sly Cooperalso needs to redeem itself a little due to Sony’s failed attempts to make other related media. Sony once indicated plans for both aSly CooperTV show and aSly Coopermovie, but they’ve disappeared rather than making it out of production. After so many years oftheSly CooperIP hanging in limbo,Sly Cooper 5would be a show of confidence from Sony, as well as something for fans to celebrate.
Sly Cooper 5would offer a great alternative toRatchet and Clank: Rift ApartbecauseSly Cooperis more stealth focused.It still has a lot to offer to both Sony and its loyal fans.TheSly Cooper 5rumorssuggest the game might not be made by its original developers, but a fresh set of eyes could be perfect for aSly Cooperrevival.FableandPerfect Darkalso have new developers, which means there’s more opportunity for new takes on the IP.Sly Cooper 5isn’t confirmed by Sony yet, but there’s clearly a lot of room for it in the market right now. Hopefully Sony addresses the rumored game soon.
