In the heyday of the PlayStation 2, the console was littered with a wide assortment of action platformers for gamers to dive into. One of the most popular series during this time was Sly Cooper, a colorful stealth platformer that felt like a Saturday morning cartoon. However, after three main games on the PS2 and then a follow-up a few years later on the PS3, the series has since seemingly faded into obscurity. With Sony's commitment to delivering heavily narrative focused, third-person action games during the PS4 generation, it seemed like there was no longer room for platformers like Sly Cooper.
However, recent rumors suggest that there is in fact a new Sly Cooper game in early development for PS5, bringing the beloved platforming mascot and his band of thieves back to the modern era. Sony's list of first party studios is quite extensive, as is the list of possible third party partners it could have made a deal with to produce a new game. Based on past releases and recent titles released, here are a few noteworthy studios that could help bring Sly Cooper back in a big way.
Sucker Punch
The first and most ideal choice would be for Sly Cooper to return to the team that started the series to begin with. While Sucker Punch may be currently pre-occupied with the Ghost of Tsushima franchise going forward, perhaps it now has enough resources and team members available to be able to work on two games at once. The studio has grown and learned a lot since its last Sly Cooper adventure, which was released all the way back in 2005 on the PS2. Bringing all of the new tricks and tools Sucker Punch picked up while working on Infamous and Ghost of Tsushima would surely help benefit Sly and the gang.
Sanzaru Games
If Sucker Punch is too busy or has chosen to move on from the Sly Cooper series, then Sanzaru game would be a solid alternative for the platforming franchise. After remastering the original trilogy for the PS3, Sanzaru was given the "OK" by Sony to develop a brand new fourth installment titled Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. The team captured the same style, humor and gameplay that Sucker Punch had created years prior, delivering a worthy follow-up to the franchise. Based on this experience with the series, Sanzaru would surely do great things for Sly on the PS5. However, Sanzaru being recently acquired by Facebook possibly dashes these hopes away.
Toys for Bob
First making a name for itself with the Skylanders series, Toys for Bob then impressed gamers with its stunning remaster of the original trilogy of PS1 Spyro games. Like a one-two punch, Toys for Bob then wowed players with its sensational continuation of the Crash Bandicoot franchise with Crash 4: It's About Time. The title picked up where Naughty Dog left off so many years ago, with a brand new platformer packed to the brim with challenging levels, gorgeous graphics, and charm to spare. Considering Toys for Bob knows how to bring an otherwise forgotten franchise back to the spotlight (a platformer no less) makes them a solid choice to help Sly leap back into action.
Team Asobi
The launch of a new console needs one crucial element to be a success: great games. While Demon's Souls may have been the flagship attraction alongside the release of the PS5, a little platformer called Astro's Playroom was no slouch either. Pre-installed on every PS5, the game was more than just a simple tech demo of the PS5's many features, serving as a competent video game in its own right.
The obvious passion for PlayStation shone through in the game with the abundance of references and Easter eggs to other Sony products and IP's, showing that Team Asobi can embrace other franchises with great care. Couple this with the surprisingly tight platforming mechanics in Astro's Playroom and Team Asobi would be another excellent option for a new Sly game.
Sly Cooper 5 is rumored to be in development.