Embrace the N. Sanity
'Crash Bandicoot 4' heads to PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X this March
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is heading to next-gen consoles! Get ready to gear up for another wild platforming adventure and relive the nostalgia with Crash, Coco and friends with enhanced gameplay.
Video game publisher Activision announced Wednesday (Feb. 10) that the latest installment in the long-running classic Crash Bandicoot series is making its way to the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X on March 12, 2021.
A Windows PC version will be released at a later date via Blizzard’s Battle.net store sometime in 2021.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time marks the first new installment in the Crash series in over a decade. The eighth installment in the franchise featuring the marsupial mascot was released on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One last October 2020. The platformer was developed by Toys for Bob and published by Activision, the same studio behind other hit video game series such as Call of Duty and Spyro the Dragon.
The PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of Crash 4 promises a nice graphical upgrade. The games will run in native 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. Players on PS5 and Xbox Series X can also expect faster load times and 3D audio effects.
According to Activision, Crash 4 will also take advantage of the PS5’s DualSense controller. “Fans will now be able to feel the force of Neo Cortex’s DNA-changing blaster and experience the grip as they grapple with Tawna’s Hookshot,” Activision said.
Existing owners of Crash 4 on PS4 or Xbox One will be able to upgrade their version of the game for free within the same console family and bring their progress along. Those who own a digital version of Crash 4 for PS4 can upgrade to the PS5 version for free via the PlayStation Store, while those who have physical discs can can use it to download the game on PS5 at no extra cost.
However, the physical version upgrade offer is not compatible with the PS5 Digital Edition disc-free console, Activision said.
Xbox Series X/S users get a similar deal, although Microsoft's Smart Delivery ensures the appropriate version is downloaded. Those who own Crash 4 on PS4 or Xbox One can upgrade their version of the game for free on the next gen console without losing their data and progress.
In terms of pricing, it seems that the Switch and PC versions are priced lower than their PlayStation and Xbox counterparts. While the Xbox and PlayStation versions are priced at $59.99, the game only costs $39.99 on Switch and PC. Pre-orders for these new versions are currently available.
Check out the all-new platforms trailer below:
The first installment in the Crash Bandicoot series was originally developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the Playstation way back in September 1996. In a statement, Activision has promised “other fun happenings,” including possibly a new game reveal, sometime this year in honor of Crash’s 25th birthday.
(Images via Activision)