Summary
- Sly Cooper's recent re-release highlights a demand for nostalgic PS2-era titles on current hardware like PS Plus Premium.
- Classic games stuck on outdated consoles can be problematic, limiting access for OG fans and younger generations.
- The success of Sly Cooper could pave the way for more PS2 classics to be re-released on PS5, potentially including other Greatest Hits.
Though Sucker Punch Productions may be famous for titles like the Infamous series and the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, the studio had its first major success with the classic stealth platformer Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus. The game kicked off a franchise that would go on to be one of the defining series for the console and made the titular raccoon one of the very first PlayStation mascots.
But as classic and influential as the original Sly Cooper games are, they’ve had very limited availability as the industry marched forward. With the exception of an early PS3-era remaster and a hit-or-miss streaming option, there really hasn’t been any way to easily enjoy these titles since the gaming landscape fully moved past the PS2. And sadly, that’s pretty common for games of that era, especially console exclusives. Thankfully, the very first Sly was re-released in its original form earlier this month, and its success could mean big things for fans of classic games from the sixth console generation.
Why Sly Cooper’s Success Matters to Fans of Classic Games
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus is having an excellent month since returning to the PSN store via PS Plus Premium. The 22-year-old game is currently reigning as a bestseller on Sony’s digital store with a 4.6-star rating out of more than 7,000 reviews. And perhaps most impressively of all, a recent report indicates that the game is the most successful re-release Sony has had on its hands yet, beating out other classic titles like the original Twisted Metal and Tomb Raider Legend. On the surface, it might just seem like Sly fans coming out in force to support an old childhood favorite, but there’s more going on here than that.
There’s nothing worse than a beloved game being locked on older, inaccessible hardware. Souls fans know this all too well with persistent fan campaigns to get Bloodborne a PC port. Classic games stuck on old hardware can be a net loss for everyone involved, considering the money that can be left on the table, the fact that OG fans miss out on replaying their old favorites, and that generations of younger gamers miss out on some of these titles because they just don’t have access to the consoles of yesteryear.
Sly’s whirlwind success is showing Sony there’s a tangible market demand for nostalgic PS2-era titles to be released on current hardware. As much as the fans might love a game, there’s no incentive for Sony to act as a company until it's certain a re-release makes sense as a business decision. But when a 22-year-old cartoony platformer like Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus is proverbially blowing the doors off PS Plus Premium, it’s a surefire thing that Sony’s hearing what the community is saying.
What Classic PS2 Games Are Due for a PS5 Re-release?
It’s hard to say for certain what PS2-era classics might end up coming back for a PS5 re-release. Though the success of Sly has shown Sony there’s money to be made in these types of endeavors, the PS2 catalog is famously massive with a list of classics too numerous to count. Sony’s emulation software has seen dramatic improvements recently, so it truly does appear that any game is on the table from a logistics point of view. But with the sheer volume of PS2 titles out there, the smart money is on those that made it into Sony’s “Greatest Hits” collection back in the day.
Back in the sixth console generation, the gaming market was a lot smaller, so a “Greatest Hit” meant any title with more than 400,000 sales worldwide and a full year on the market. That said, a lot of games made that cut, some more fondly remembered than others.
PS2 Greatest Hits That Could Be Next For a PS5 Re-Release
- The rest of the original Sly Cooper trilogy (Sly 2: Band of Thieves and Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves)
- The original Jak and Daxter trilogy
- Bully
- Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
- Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith
- Burnout Revenge
- Kingdom Hearts 2
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
All of these titles are beloved by many gamers of that era, playing a formative part of their earliest memories with the hobby, and they’re all locked on very old hardware. Without the original consoles, discs, or emulation software, there’s no way to access them in 2024. The younger generations are effectively soft-locked from these classics that helped shape the industry into what it is today.
It’ll likely take some time before the consumer sees any movement as a result of Sly’s success this month; games are a business and approving and developing re-releases takes time. But there’s something about a cartoon raccoon famous for pulling off heists in games that might just be the one title that gives the industry a chance to revisit one of its golden ages.
Sony's Sly Cooper franchise began in 2002 with Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus and hasn't had a new release since 2013's Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. The series uniquely combines the platform and stealth genres.
The original PlayStation 2 trilogy was developed by Sucker Punch Productions, while Thieves in Time on PlayStation 3 was developed by Sanzaru Games.