Rumors Suggest Sony Will Revive Several Dormant PlayStation IPs by 2025

While PlayStation Studios undeniably delivers high-quality games, there is a palpable void when it comes to the whimsical and charming titles that characterized the PlayStation 3 era. The recent release of Astro Bot pays homage to some of PlayStation’s finest franchises, but nostalgic nods alone fall short of revitalizing the brand’s playful spirit. Thankfully, there appears to be a shift on the horizon as reports suggest that PlayStation may be actively revisiting several dormant intellectual properties (IPs), as outlined by Andy Robinson from VGC.

The Revival of Dormant PlayStation IPs

During a recent episode of VGC: The Video Game Podcast, the hosts expressed their wishes for PlayStation to breathe new life into classic titles by 2025. One of the titles mentioned was Fat Princess, a beloved gem from the PS3 era. Andy Robinson, the Editor-in-Chief of VGC, revealed on the podcast that he is aware of at least two projects in development that revolve around “deep deep cut old IP.” He shared:

Andy: Without being an insider dick, I know of a couple that they're working on, like the deep deep cut old IP stuff. Kinda in the mold that you're talking about, really, maybe some smaller games, supplementing their big releases.

These anticipated titles are expected to fit a smaller budget framework, allowing PlayStation to take creative risks. This insight is further supported by Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, who emphasized in a recent Famitsu interview that leveraging older IPs is crucial as the company seeks to deepen its portfolio:

"Our extensive IP portfolio is an important asset for PlayStation, and as part of our efforts to strengthen our portfolio, we continually explore opportunities to leverage our legacy IP as well as develop new franchises."

The nature of these revival projects—whether they will be new experiences, remasters, or remakes—remains uncertain, but clarity may come as we move further into 2025. In light of these developments, we’ve put together a wish list of classic IPs we hope to see resurrected:

A New Ape Escape Game: This franchise has not seen a major release since its PS2 days. Once a hallmark of the PlayStation identity, it is time for Ape Escape to make a triumphant return.
RIDGE RACER Collection: Although not a first-party franchise, RIDGE RACER boasts some of its most iconic titles exclusive to PlayStation. Bringing together a collection of the best entries would simply make sense for modern consoles.