Evening Star Developing New Mainline Ape Escape Game
Sony is reviving the dormant Ape Escape franchise, with the new mainline game being developed by Sonic Mania studio Evening Star.
A new mainline Ape Escape game is in development, with the project being handled by the independent studio Evening Star. Former Giant Bomb journalist Jeff Gerstmann reported the news on his podcast, stating development has been ongoing for almost a year and corroborating the information with separate sources.
Gerstmann's claims were corroborated by other industry sources. They reported that PlayStation is working with outside developers on legacy intellectual property, using a partnership model similar to the one used for Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots in 2025. Multiple sources confirmed Sony is looking to bring back dormant franchises via external studios.
Franchise Background
Ape Escape debuted in 1999 as a beloved series of 3D platformers during the PS1 and PS2 generations. The games involved players catching chaos-causing apes using special gadgets. The original title is often considered one of the best PS1 games ever, making effective use of the DualShock controller’s dual analog sticks.
The last mainline entry, Ape Escape 3, was released for the PS2 in 2005. While PlayStation Move Ape Escape released later, it is not considered a mainline series entry. This means it has been more than 20 years since a traditional, mainline Ape Escape game.
Developer Pedigree
The studio behind the revival, Evening Star, is the independent team that developed the critically acclaimed Sonic Mania. The studio was founded by Sonic Mania lead designer Christian Whitehead in 2018. Evening Star later released its own original title, Penny's Big Breakaway, which launched to mixed reviews. Sonic Mania, by contrast, received near unanimous praise.
Broader Revival Strategy
This Ape Escape project fits into a wider Sony strategy of partnering with third-party studios to resurrect classic franchises. Rumors circulated last month about PlayStation looking to bring back the Killzone series, potentially with Outriders developer People Can Fly. Guerrilla Games is the original developer of Killzone.
The revival also connects to recent tributes within Sony's own studios. Team Asobi, the remnant of the disbanded Japan Studio, included a playable homage to Ape Escape called 'Apes On The Loose' in its 2024 platformer Astro Bot. Sony disbanded Japan Studio in 2021.
The last mainline Ape Escape game was released in 2005.
