Could Evening Star Be Reviving the Ape Escape Franchise?
Speculation is swirling within the gaming community regarding the potential return of the beloved Ape Escape series. While official details remain scarce, recent industry whispers point toward a surprising candidate for the project’s development.
Connecting the Dots: Why Evening Star?
Recent reports from the social media account AsobiAr have shifted the spotlight onto Evening Star, the studio celebrated for its work on Sonic Mania. This follows earlier rumors that effectively ruled out both Team Asobi and Bandai Namco as the developers behind a potential revival. While these claims currently lack concrete documentation or insider confirmation, several circumstantial breadcrumbs have led analysts to consider this partnership a plausible scenario.
Evidence Supporting the Speculation
Several strategic moves by the studio have fueled the fire regarding their involvement in a 3D platformer project:
- Targeted Recruitment: Evening Star recently posted a job opening for a 3D character artist specifically skilled in anime-inspired aesthetics-a visual hallmark of the Ape Escape franchise.
- Leadership Interests: CTO Hunter Bridges, who previously directed the 3D platformer Penny’s Big Breakaway, has openly expressed his affinity for the Ape Escape series in the past.
- Geographic Shifts: CEO and executive producer Dave Padilla relocated to Tokyo last year, placing the studio’s leadership in closer proximity to the heart of Japanese game development.
A Logical Next Step for the Studio
Beyond these specific clues, the timing aligns with the studio’s production cycle. Following the completion of Penny’s Big Breakaway for publisher Private Division, Evening Star is likely seeking its next major endeavor. Given their proven track record in revitalizing classic platforming mechanics-much like how they successfully modernized the 2D Sonic formula-taking on a 3D platformer like Ape Escape would be a natural evolution for their creative team.
While it is entirely possible that the studio is occupied with an original intellectual property, the convergence of their recent hiring needs and the specific expertise of their leadership team makes them a compelling frontrunner for a franchise reboot.
