Ape Escape Revival Reportedly in Development at Evening Star

Sony’s classic platformer franchise Ape Escape may be making a comeback, with multiple sources pointing to Evening Star, the studio best known for developing Sonic Mania, as the team behind a reported revival of the beloved PlayStation series.

What We Know About the Project

Veteran games journalist Jeff Gerstmann first surfaced the claim on his podcast, The Jeff Gerstmann Show, stating that Evening Star is working on a new Ape Escape game. His comments align with what Video Games Chronicle reports it has heard from its own independent sources. Gerstmann noted he had been asking questions about the project as far back as February at the DICE conference, suggesting the rumor has been circulating within industry circles for some time.

Gerstmann was clear that the game does not appear close to release, describing it as a project that had only just been greenlit and was in its earliest stages when he first heard about it. He also addressed immediate speculation that Team Asobi, the Tokyo-based Sony studio behind Astro Bot, was responsible, stating his information pointed specifically to an external studio rather than an internal Sony team.

Evening Star was formed by several developers who worked on Sonic Mania and subsequently released Penny’s Big Breakaway, a 3D platformer that drew favorable comparisons to classic PlayStation-era titles.

Sony’s Broader Strategy Around Dormant Franchises

According to Video Games Chronicle, Ape Escape is not the only sleeping Sony franchise being lined up for a return. The outlet reports that Sony Interactive Entertainment is exploring a licensing model that hands dormant IP to smaller third-party studios, a strategy the company already tested when it licensed the Everybody’s Golf franchise to Bandai Namco for Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots in 2025. The Killzone series is also reportedly being revived, with a remaster or remake said to be in early development.

Not every PlayStation revival is taking the licensing route. Reports indicate that a new Uncharted game is being developed internally at Naughty Dog rather than being handed to an outside partner.

No Confirmation From Sony

Sony has not responded to a request for comment from Video Games Chronicle, and no official announcement has been made. Given Gerstmann’s own description of the project as early-stage and not heavily corroborated at the time he first heard about it, this story remains firmly in rumor territory for now. SaveGameVault will continue to follow any developments as they emerge.

Sources: Video Games Chronicle