Playstation Taps Evening Star For Ape Escape Revival [2026 Update]

As originally reported by Polygon, Sony Interactive Entertainment is currently partnering with independent developer Evening Star to revive the iconic Ape Escape franchise after a hiatus spanning over fifteen years. Industry sources, including veteran games journalist Jeff Gerstmann and VGC, have confirmed that the project is actively under development. Evening Star, established in 2018 by Christian Whitehead—the lead designer behind the critically acclaimed Sonic Mania—recently demonstrated its proprietary 3D engine capabilities through the 2024 launch of Penny’s Big Breakaway. By entrusting one of its most cherished legacy intellectual properties to external platformer specialists, PlayStation signals a renewed focus on expanding its family-oriented action portfolio alongside major core titles. Similar to how , Sony continues to diversify its platform offerings across high-budget AAA blockbusters and agile partner projects. The unannounced project marks the first main-line movement for Ape Escape since the PlayStation 2 era, positioning Sony to capture both nostalgia-driven legacy players and modern platforming enthusiasts.