14 DAY TRIAL // The PlayStation 4 has delivered a very successful next-gen launch for the team that created it at Sony, and at the moment, a lot of fans are focusing on their long-term hopes for the device, which for some include the revival of classic franchises associated with the brand, like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon.
The big problem with new titles linked to both characters is that the actual intellectual properties connected to them are now the property of Activision, which means that the two companies will have to work together to deliver new experiences.
Andrew House, the current president and chief executive officer of Sony Computer Entertainment International, is quoted by Gamepur as saying that “This is very dangerous ground. In concept, it is something we've been thinking about and discussing, and this is a shift for us.”
He adds, “We've started to say that maybe there isn't anything wrong with going back and looking at characters that people still talk about, that were a big part of either their childhood or their youth. I definitely wouldn't close the door on that.”
Sony needs to walk a fine line in order to keep the hopes of long-term fans of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon alive while making sure that it does not jeopardize its long-term business relation with Activision and other companies.
Naughty Dog, the original creators of Crash, were forced to hold a fan art contest recently that specifically mentioned that entries built around the character were not allowed, which made the community unhappy.
The PlayStation 4 home console has been selling very well since it was launched in November of 2013, and currently has a worldwide lead over the rival Xbox One from Microsoft.
At the moment, Sony is focusing on the launch of new big titles for the platform, including a Naughty Dog-created Uncharted title, called A Thief’s End, which will finish the story of Nathan Drake.
The studio has also said that it is working on another secret project associated with the home console, which will probably be revealed next year, and the company has offered a series of hints that point to an entirely new IP.
Sony will probably try to mine its back catalog later during the life cycle of the PlayStation 4, and at that point, Activision might be ready to make a deal about Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon.