Despite persistent fan enthusiasm for a new Sly Cooper installment, it appears the game`s original developer, Sucker Punch Productions, currently has minimal interest in revisiting the beloved franchise. The studio, renowned for the Infamous series, is fully immersed in preparations for the upcoming launch of Ghost of Yotei, scheduled for release on October 2.
During a recent Minnmax interview, Ghost of Yotei co-creative director Nate Fox was subjected to 125 rapid-fire questions, including one about Sly Cooper. Fox`s response offered a candid insight, making it clear that very few individuals at Sucker Punch are presently inclined to develop a new title in the series.
When asked to estimate the percentage of the studio that would be excited if their next project after Ghost of Yotei were a new Sly Cooper game, Fox bluntly stated, “10%.” Interviewer Ben Hanson expressed surprise at such a low figure, to which Fox simply replied, “It`s been a long time, Ben, since Sly Cooper`s come out.” This sentiment is consistent with a 2022 blog post from Sucker Punch that explicitly confirmed no Sly Cooper games were in active development.
Nate Fox himself played a significant role as a designer on the original 2002 Sly Cooper game and its two immediate sequels. However, following the third game`s release in 2005, the only subsequent entry was 2013`s Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, which was notably developed by Sanzaru Games, not Sucker Punch. Consequently, two full decades have passed since Sucker Punch last developed a Sly Cooper title, during which time they have released three installments in the Infamous series, as well as the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima and the forthcoming Yotei.
In recent years, the iconic raccoon thief has largely been relegated to cameo appearances and references in other games, such as Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and Astro Bot. For dedicated fans, the most realistic hope might now be limited to a modern-day port or remaster of the original trilogy.