The Simpsons: Hit & Run could have had three sequels, but despite a deal working in its favor, the publisher ultimately decided against it. The newest confirmation that The Simpsons: Hit & Run was intended to be a multi-game series comes courtesy of a lead developer who worked directly on the original game.

the simpsons milhouse voice actor pamela hayden
The Simpsons Is Losing One Of Its Most Iconic Voice Actors

While there are no signs of stopping for The Simpsons, one of the longest-running voice actors finally calls it quits.

Now, former The Simpsons: Hit & Run designer, Joe McGinn, has opened up a bit about how the game was supposed to have sequels and never got them. On a video about The Simpsons: Hit & Run speedrunning on YouTube channel Summoning Salt, McGinn commented on the video under the username noviwan. After reminiscing a bit about the game, McGinn noted that Gracie Films, the production company behind The Simpsons, offered the game's publisher Vivendi an offer to make three sequels with access to the voice actors and show rights for no cost to the publisher. For some reason, someone at the publisher turned down the deal.

McGinn's Story Corroborates With Other The Simpsons: Hit & Run Developers

While the reason behind Vivendi's decision is unclear, its choice to say no to the offer has been corroborated by other members of the development team. Previously, an interview with the game's producers, writer, programmers, and another designer confirmed that they had a license for up to five games using The Simpsons IP. Following the development of both The Simpsons: Road Rage and The Simpsons: Hit & Run, the IP was dropped by the company, and no sequel was ever released.

Twenty years later, fans are still hoping that the license could be renewed and a full sequel or official remake finally released. The revelation that this series could have had multiple sequels and never got them is probably adding insult to an already-injured fanbase, as the gaming Simpsons community is still dealing with the fallout of The Simpsons: Tapped Out shutting down in October. However, while The Simpsons: Hit & Run is becoming more difficult to access as time goes on, at least as an offline game, players can still give it another whirl. Tapped Out, for all intents and purposes, is no longer accessible at all.

The Simpsons: Hit & Run Tag Page Cover Art
Action-Adventure
Sandbox
Systems
Released
September 16, 2003
ESRB
3+
Developer(s)
Radical Entertainment
Publisher(s)
Radical Entertainment
Engine
unreal engine 5
The Simpsons_ Hit & Run In Game Screenshot 2

WHERE TO PLAY

PHYSICAL

Save Springfield! By car. By foot. By the seat of your pants.

Springfield's biggest driving hazards are let loose! Drive yourself crazy in lawless fender-benders and chaotic head-on collisions as your favorite Simpsons character. Unbuckle your seatbelt and set out on foot to investigate creepy crop circles and a diabolical conspiracy threatening to obliterate Springfield. Drop that donut and grab the wheel!

Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer
Franchise
The Simpsons
Platform(s)
PlayStation 2, Xbox One, GameCube, Microsoft Windows
Genre(s)
Action-Adventure, Sandbox
How Long To Beat
10 hours