The Simpsons Hit And Run: Will We Ever See A Sequel?

Throughout history, there have been many games that attempted to replicate "Grand Theft Auto" and failed miserably. However, "The Simpsons: Hit and Run" remains one of the few games to emulate the "GTA" formula while adding its own bits and bobs, to much success. Upon its release, "The Simpsons: Hit and Run" earned very positive reviews with many critics praising its pivot away from the "Crazy Taxi" formula seen in its spiritual predecessor "The Simpsons: Road Rage" to the open-world format. Players were free to explore the fictional town of Springfield seen in "The Simpsons" on TV. However, despite the game's success, a sequel to the title has yet to see the light of day.

And it's not for the lack of interest either. Over the years, many "Simpsons" fans and gamers have clamored for a sequel for "The Simpsons: Hit and Run." However, in the two decades since the game hit store shelves, nothing substantial regarding a sequel to "Hit and Run" has materialized. This begs the question: Will the game ever receive a sequel?

On the back of the original game's success, it should be noted that there were indeed plans to do a sequel to the game. According to an interview with "Hit and Run" senior designer Joe McGinn for GAME Media, development on a "Hit and Run 2" was underway until EA acquired the exclusive gaming license to "The Simpsons" back in 2005. As stated by McGinn, they were far enough along to even have a working prototype of the game (via GamesRadar). After EA acquired the rights to the IP, the sequel was scrapped.

Ever since then, EA has elected not to build upon the success of "The Simpsons: Hit and Run" and has instead chosen to go in a different direction with the property. Outside of the 2007 "The Simpsons Game" — a platformer that divided critics — EA hasn't published a full-fledged AAA title dedicated to the Simpsons family and has instead mostly released a collection of mobile titles such as "Minutes to Meltdown" and "The Simpsons Arcade." For whatever reason, it doesn't seem EA is too bothered with letting "The Simpsons: Hit and Run" exist as a relic of the past, despite the fond memories attached to it.

In the current age of gaming, many developers and publishers have shifted away from creating dedicated sequels to old classics in favor of remastering or even remaking the original titles. "Dead Space" was recently the subject of a well-received remake while other classics such as "Resident Evil 4" are also being rebuilt to suit modern gaming sensibilities. And according to the general consensus, many gamers want to see "The Simpsons: Hit and Run" receive the same kind of treatment.

According to a poll done by GAME, "The Simpsons: Hit and Run" is among the top 10 titles that gamers feel should be remastered, managing to beat out other classics such as "Metal Gear Solid" and "Crash Bandicoot: Warped." "One of the most talked-about possible remasters is 'Simpsons Hit and Run,' with articles surfacing every year on the topic," GAME said of the title. "With over 52,000 yearly searches and an average of 17,000 engagements per article, it's clear to see the game is still a huge talking point and is adored by fans." While a sequel would certainly be an intriguing development, and one that is likely embraced by fans of the first game, such data suggests a simple modern refresh of "The Simpsons: Hit and Run" could be enough to satisfy gamers.

2022 was a massive year in terms of company acquisitions in the gaming world. Weeks after the calendar year began, a blockbuster announcement involving Microsoft's $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard permeated through the interwebs — a deal still pending in the court of law. Not long after, Sony announced it had purchased former Microsoft subsidiary Bungie for $3.6 billion. In the wake of such deals, it seems EA was also courting suitors to purchase the company as of May 2022. While this may seem irrelevant to the future of the "Simpsons: Hit and Run" IP, it isn't.

As mentioned previously, EA currently owns the rights to produce video games based on "The Simpsons." And thus far, the company hasn't produced a sequel to "Hit and Run." Should it be sold to another big company in the future, EA essentially loses all of its executive power when it comes to dictating what games are produced. Should a company ultimately purchase the giant publisher, the future of "The Simpsons" on consoles will be in its hands. And only then will we know if "Hit and Run" is an IP that new management decides to dust off.

As of right now, a sequel to "The Simpsons: Hit and Run" doesn't look to be on the horizon. For better or worse, it's a decision that rests with EA. And if EA sells up, that decision will pivot to whatever company is the highest bidder. It's not a hopeless situation as "The Simpsons" remains a very popular and beloved IP — one that players continue to revisit and even improve upon. But is a sequel coming? It's anyone's guess at this point.