Sly Cooper and inFAMOUS Comeback Hopes Hit a Wall

Even though the world of video games is always changing, some games have left lasting impressions on fans with their unique stories and gameplay. Many people are very excited about the idea of these shows coming back, but Sly Cooper and inFAMOUS are the ones that fans really want to see. But new information and events hint that bringing these games back might not fit with the current plans of the people who made them.

Sucker Punch Productions made the stealth-action game Sly Cooper, but it hasn't done very well at the box office in recent years. About $5 million was made from the Sly Collection on PlayStation Network, and about $3.3 million was made from Sly 4: Thieves in Time, which was made by Sanzaru Games. These numbers aren't even close to what other PlayStation-only games have made in sales.

For example, Ghost of Tsushima has sold more than 13 million copies around the world, which means it has made about $780 million. Even more impressive is Ghost of Yōtei, the follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima. It has become Sony's best-selling PlayStation game in Europe since 2023, selling more than games like Death Stranding 2 and Helldivers 2.

Ghost of Yōtei co-director Nate Fox said that only about 10% of Sucker Punch's team would really be excited to make a new Sly Cooper game.

The difference in sales numbers brings up an important point: from a business point of view, putting money and time into reviving a brand that won't make much money might not be a good idea. This shows that the company is currently focusing on other projects. This view fits with a bigger trend in the business world: firms are putting more effort into projects that are more likely to make money.

The inFAMOUS series has had ups and downs in terms of sales. The games are known for having open worlds and making moral choices. Over a million copies of inFAMOUS: Second Son were sold in the first nine days after it came out, and an expected six million copies had been sold by June 2019. Even though these numbers are good, they aren't as impressive as the sales of other games from Sony. One example is Horizon Forbidden West, whose development budget allegedly went from $47 million to $212 million, showing a big investment in big projects.

Data analytics are becoming more and more important in the gaming business. Studios and publishers keep a close eye on metrics like player engagement, sales, and return on investment. There is a greater chance that franchises that regularly do well will continue to get help and development. On the other hand, games that don't meet these standards may be put on hold, even if they have a lot of fans or are retro.

Finally, while die-hard fans still want new games in the Sly Cooper and inFAMOUS series, the current state of the gaming industry's finances suggests that these series may not be brought back any time soon. The focus seems to be moving toward projects that have already been shown to make money and have a wide appeal. As the industry changes, it will be interesting to see how old franchises respond to how player standards and market needs are changing.