Rumors are swirling that Xbox may be exploring a major animated movie built around its own gaming mascot. Reports indicate the company could be developing a Crash Bandicoot film meant to rival the global success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Insiders claim Microsoft and Xbox are “exploring” the idea through an undisclosed studio. The film is reportedly aimed at a broad audience of families and children, not just longtime gamers, with early projections suggesting a possible release by 2030. “It’s being approached as an accessible family film,” said industry watcher V Scooper, who first dropped the rumor on social media. He added that the project remains in early development, with no confirmed animation format or production team yet attached.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a landmark hit for Nintendo and Illumination Entertainment, earning more than $1 billion worldwide in 2023. Its massive success has prompted rivals to look for their own crossover opportunities between gaming and Hollywood. Analysts say the trend is far from over.
Crash Bandicoot’s road to Xbox ownership is a long corporate journey. Originally a PlayStation mascot created by Naughty Dog, the character passed through several hands, from Universal Interactive to Vivendi, then to Activision-Blizzard in 2008. When Microsoft finalized its $69 billion deal to acquire Activision-Blizzard in 2022, Crash joined the Xbox stable of properties.
Industry observers note that Microsoft has dominated gaming hardware and online services but lacks family-friendly characters with worldwide appeal. Compared to the box office draw of Nintendo’s Mario or SEGA’s Sonic, Xbox franchises like Halo and Forza cater to older audiences. A Crash Bandicoot movie could fill that gap and give Microsoft a recognizable face for young viewers.
Former Sony executive Shuji Utsumi told The Game Business in July 2025 that he once pitched Crash Bandicoot movies to film studios two decades ago. “They didn’t really take it seriously,” he recalled, saying studios then viewed video games as “a toy business.” The market has changed dramatically since then. With Sonic the Hedgehog and The Super Mario Bros. Movie proving audiences will turn out for colorful, faithful adaptations, the timing may finally be right for Crash to make the leap from console to cinema.
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James Quinn
Best described as a pop culture contrarian, notorious for tossing grenades into fandom echo chambers while mixing sharp skepticism with an unhealthy dose of snark. When not airing my grievances about "shills" in the entertainment media, I'm dissecting every whiff of Hollywood hype with all the subtlety of Marc malkin at a press junket.
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