A new entry in Sony’s classic Ape Escape franchise is reportedly being developed by Evening Star, the external studio behind the critically acclaimed reboot Sonic Mania, according to a fresh round of industry reporting. Journalist Jeff Gerstmann confirmed on his podcast that multiple sources have indicated the dormant PlayStation platforming series has been revived under an outside developer working with Sony Interactive Entertainment.
The report marks another chapter in what appears to be a broader strategy from Sony to breathe new life into its backlog of inactive intellectual properties through third-party partnerships. While no official announcement has been made and nothing is confirmed by the publisher, the convergence of reporting suggests that work on an Ape Escape title may already have begun.
A Studio Known for Revivals
Evening Star earned its reputation as a studio capable of resurrecting beloved franchises. The team delivered Sonic Mania in 2017, a celebration of Sega’s blue hedgehog that was nearly universally praised by critics and fans alike, often cited as one of the best platformers of its generation. That success stands in contrast to Evening Star’s more recent effort, Penny’s Big Breakaway, which launched to mixed reviews compared with the near-unanimous acclaim Sonic Mania received.
“My understanding is that it’s an external studio. People were immediately like, ‘Oh, Team Asobi (Astro Bot) is making it.’ My understanding is that an external team has been working on that. What do they make… Penny’s Big Breakaway. Evening Star. I heard that they were working on it.”
Jeff Gerstmann
The Source of the Rumors
The report traces back to conversations Gerstmann began gathering earlier this year. He said he first started hearing about a potential Ape Escape game around February, when he was asking people questions at the DICE conference.
“So yeah, some other folks have said that they also heard that Ape Escape is being made… I don’t think this game is close to being out or anything like that, but I guess it’s been almost a year since we started talking about Ape Escape.”
Jeff Gerstmann
VGC independently corroborated the report through its own sources. Gerstmann was careful to note the speculative nature of what he had heard, describing it as “not necessarily the most corroborated, multiple-source thing,” but emphasizing that the pattern of information pointed toward Evening Star.
A Broader Sony Strategy
The Ape Escape report fits into a larger picture. According to reporting from last month, Sony is exploring the use of third-party studios to revive dormant series across its entire portfolio. Rumors have circulated that PlayStation is looking to bring back Killzone as well, though in that case the obvious developer would likely be first-party original studio Guerrilla Games rather than an outside partner.
The Ape Escape franchise once held a prominent place in Sony’s lineup during the early days of its motion controls push. The last game released was PlayStation Move Ape Escape for the PS3 in 2010, while the final mainline installment, Ape Escape 3, launched five years earlier on the PS2 in 2005.
“At the time that I initially heard it, sounded like it was a game that had been just barely greenlit and just getting underway.”
Jeff Gerstmann
Looking Ahead
As of now, no official details have been provided by Sony regarding the project’s scope, platforms, or release window. IGN reached out to Sony for comment about its rumored third-party licensing strategy last week but had not received a response at time of publication.
For fans hoping to see Monkey Battle return to modern consoles, patience will be required. Gerstmann indicated that the project appears to be in its earliest stages, with development having begun only recently. Any concrete information about an Ape Escape revival is likely months away, and Sony has yet to confirm or deny any of the reporting.
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