Even after all these years, The Simpsons: Hit & Run remains a fan favorite among gamers. Sadly, we might have missed out on potential sequels due to a puzzling decision from someone involved in publishing the game.
When it comes to PlayStation 2 titles, few are as universally cherished as The Simpsons: Hit & Run. I honestly can’t recall coming across a single negative opinion about it. Despite the outcry for a port or remaster, none has been released. The game, which drew inspiration from Grand Theft Auto, had impressive sales at its launch. Yet, no sequel ever followed, leaving fans to wonder why. Earlier this month, Summoning Salt, a YouTuber known for creating in-depth documentaries about speedrunning in various games, posted a video focused on The Simpsons: Hit & Run. As GamesRadar observed, it attracted a fascinating comment from Joe McGinn, the game’s lead designer.
Initially, McGinn expressed his delight at seeing the video, calling it “incredibly fun and heartwarming.” However, in a follow-up comment, he revealed a surprising behind-the-scenes story. According to McGinn, there was an opportunity to create up to three sequels to the game without incurring any licensing costs. Gracie Films, the production company behind The Simpsons, offered the game’s publisher a deal allowing them to use all Simpsons rights and voice actors at no additional cost for three sequels.
Given the success of the original game and such a generous offer, one might wonder why these sequels never came to fruition. McGinn shed some light on this, stating, “some crazy person at the publisher – we never found out who – said no.” It seems like an incredibly puzzling decision, and one that no doubt frustrated the development team. Unfortunately, 20 years later, there isn’t much that can be done about it. Still, there’s always hope that a port might surface someday, keeping the spirit of the game alive for both longtime fans and new players.
