Players still hold a special place in their hearts for The Simpsons: Hit & Run, and it’s intriguing to think about what might have been if not for a decision made by someone involved with its release.
When it comes to beloved PS2 games, The Simpsons: Hit & Run is at the top of the list. It’s a classic with few detractors, and even today, fans are eager for a re-release or remaster. Despite its success and strong sales, a sequel never saw the light of day. We now have a glimpse into why that might be. Earlier this month, Summoning Salt, a YouTuber known for creating in-depth documentaries on the speedrunning history of various games, dropped a video focusing on The Simpsons: Hit & Run. As noted by GamesRadar, the video attracted a notable comment from none other than the game’s lead designer, Joe McGinn.
Initially, McGinn’s comment expressed how “incredibly fun and heartwarming” it was to watch the video. However, he later revealed a surprising tidbit: the game could have spawned up to three sequels without any cost for The Simpsons license. McGinn shared that Gracie Films, The Simpsons’ production company, had proposed a deal to the publisher. They could produce three sequels, complete with all the necessary Simpsons rights and voice work, at the unbeatable price of zero dollars—meaning the licensing was essentially free.
Given such an enticing offer and the game’s proven success, the question arises: why wasn’t the sequel approved? McGinn sheds some light on this puzzling decision, stating that “some crazy person at the publisher – we never found out who – said no.” It’s a bewildering choice that surely frustrated the developers. Unfortunately, two decades down the line, there’s little to be done about it now. Still, fans hold out hope for at least a modern port someday.
