The Simpsons: Hit and Run developer reveals why sequels didn’t happen

Developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games, the title is still regularly played today, more than 20 years after its initial release.

Oddly, the fan-favorite game never received a sequel and we now know the tragic and bizarre reason why – thanks to comments made on YouTube by the game’s lead designer.

Why didn’t The Simpsons: Hit and Run get sequels?

There was no sequel to The Simpsons: Hit and Run because someone at Vivendi Universal Games turned down a deal to make three sequels and free rights to the Simpsons license and voice actors.

We could have had three sequels to the game.

Hit and Run lead designer Joe McGinn confirmed the revealing news in a series of comments on YouTube (user @noviwan). These comments were left under a video by YouTuber Summoning Salt titled “The History of The Simpsons Hit and Run World Records‘.

A few comments further down the listing, McGinn explained that “Gracie Films offered our publisher a deal to make three sequels, with full Simpsons rights and voice actors, for the premium price of zero dollars (we would get nothing to pay for the film). Simpsons License in other words)”.

He added: “Some crazy person at the publisher – we never found out who – said no. »

Oh!

It’s easy to see such a decision as a bad decision in hindsight, but the publisher probably didn’t expect the game to become such a long-term success.

The development team certainly didn’t. McGinn went on to say that “we never imagined that this would still bring happiness to some people 20 years later.”

Regardless of what they may have thought, denying free rights to The Simpsons – especially at the time – seemed like a bizarre decision. Who would do such a thing even now?

There is still hope of seeing a remake, remaster, or unlikely port of the game as of this writing. McGinn would love to see that happen.

In a previous interview with GamesRadarMcGinn said, “I’d love to see it” when asked about the possibility of an official remake of the game. Although, as GamesRadar puts it, he “doesn’t have the benefit of knowing what is the likelihood of an official remake”.

Fans have always been asking for a remake, port or remaster of The Simpsons: Hit and Run. Fingers crossed that someone makes it happen – and no longer refuses licensing fees.

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