In case you haven’t heard, there’s some exciting news floating around for all the Sly Cooper fans who have been faithfully awaiting the return of the beloved franchise! As you may know, an easter egg recently appeared in the PlayStation Showcase showing the Sly Cooper symbol appearing on a guard rail for a brief glimpse. Considering that a similar Easter egg preceded Crash Bandicoot’s return, many fans believe this glimpse is the first nod toward the revival of Sucker Punch’s standout franchise.

The Sly Cooper tease in the PlayStation Showcase in 2021.

If you aren’t already familiar with the iconic raccoon, Sly Cooper is a stealth platformer series developed by Sucker Punch Productions. Throughout the story, which still rings true for both children and adults (a rare achievement in storytelling), the memorable and heartfelt cast of characters wrestle with themes of legacy, friendship, redemption, and more. Its cel-shaded graphics lend a memorable style to the tale, and after watching the Sly Collection’s latest trailer, it’s not hard to see why those passionate about the franchise are excited that the gentleman thief may be making a return!

Those hopes may soon be fulfilled. Recently, an insider by the name of @Shpeshal_Nick, with a proven track record for such rumors, shared the news, stating that his “normal” Sony source confirmed that Sly is indeed coming back. We don’t know yet which studio is developing the new game or what content is guaranteed (assuming the leak is accurate), but many speculations are floating around. Some of the most recent theories are that Sly Cooper may be remade by BluePoint Games or that the mysterious developer is instead foregoing the remake and working on an original game. 

A Gamer Rant article puts forth the possibility that Sucker Punch themselves could be working on two games at once, both Sly and their Ghost of Tsushima franchise. However, this seems unlikely as “According to Nick, he ‘kept being told’ that Sucker Punch is not the studio developing the new game.” Sanzaru worked on Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, the fourth installment in the franchise, but the studio has recently been acquired by Facebook and Oculus Studios. Thus, it’s also unlikely they’ve taken on the project. Fans are keeping their eyes on Toys for Bob and Sumo Digital as possible developers, too. 

Regardless of who will be making it and what content we can expect, Sly Cooper and the Gang appear ready to return. Gamers who played the series when it originally came out along with those who’ve experienced it on PS Now or through retrospectives and other avenues can agree that the heir to the Cooper legacy has deserved a comeback for a long time. With any luck, in the not-so-far-away future, we’ll get a teaser trailer with the iconic ancestral cane flashing in the light once more. 

What do you think about all this news? If Sly Cooper is in fact stealthing his way back onto the scene, will you grab a controller and join the fans?