Update [Thu 29th Aug, 2024 05:00 BST]:
Following the apparent video leak, Sony has now provided an update on the PlayStation blog, mentioning how the Crash Bandicoot IP and more will feature in the new Astro Bot game (thanks VGC for the heads up):
“With all of these characters, the eyes are paramount. Sometimes LED eyes just didn’t work on certain characters because the original design relies so much on the pupils being a certain size or color for instance . So for more cartoony VIPs like Crash Bandicoot or from Ape Escape, the Bots are wearing a mask to help bridge that problem!”
Again, what's potentially interesting here (from an Xbox perspective) is that this is happening post-Microsoft acquisition. You can see the original story below for more details:
Original [Tue 20th Aug, 2024 17:00 BST]:
It seems more Microsoft-owned IP could potentially be showing up on the PlayStation 5 in the future. However, this story is a bit different to some of the recent headlines, and to be honest it's not all that surprising either (if indeed there's any truth to it).
New footage of the upcoming PS5 exclusive Astro Bot (which is a celebration of all-things PlayStation) has leaked, and it reportedly features all sorts of crossovers. Two that have got some of the Xbox community talking appear to be Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon, which are (again) now owned by Microsoft.
This video leak has been reported on by sites like Eurogamer, and other parts of the internet claim to have seen these characters in uploaded game footage.
Reliable leaker 'eXtas1s' has also shared supposed shots of Crash and Spyro in Astro Bot, and the assumption seems to be that Sony has reached an agreement with Microsoft to allow these iconic mascots to appear in the game. Keep in mind this is still a rumour, so nothing is necessarily guaranteed.
"Sony has reached an agreement with Activision/Xbox to feature Crash Bandicoot and Spyro in the Astro Bot game for PS5. It is not yet known if they will be playable costumes or just NPCs."
Of course, even if this is the real deal, we don't necessarily know the timeline here. PlayStation could have potentially even sorted a collaboration like this well before Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
It's worth highlighting how this wouldn't be the first time Crash and Spyro have shown up in this particular series, as both appeared as cameos in the original PlayStation 5 game Astro's Playroom. What's interesting here from an Xbox perspective is that this is potentially happening post-Microsoft acquisition.
These particular characters originally started on the original PlayStation with trilogies before being sold off to Activision, and eventually winding up at the Xbox division. Microsoft has also cooperated with Nintendo in the past - allowing Banjo-Kazooie to be included in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster.