Rumors that a new Ape Escape game is on its way have escalated, with Sony’s president Shuhei Yoshida now congratulating the long-dormant franchise on reaching its 20th anniversary. In a tweet posted to an Ape Escape-themed Twitter account that popped up around the series’ anniversary, Sony President Shuhei Yoshida is shown wearing a Peak Point Helmet, the familiar device used to control the ape’s minds in the Ape Escape games.
“Congratulations to Shuhei Yoshida, president of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios!” the tweet reads. It can be viewed below:
ソニー・インタラクティブエンタテインメント ワールドワイド・スタジオのプレジデント、吉田修平氏にもお祝いしていただきました！#サルゲッチュ #サルゲッチュ20th pic.twitter.com/uwAQK6ypok
— 【公式】サルゲッチュ20周年 (@piposaru20th) July 4, 2019
Yoshida worked as part of Kazunori Yamauchi’s team in helping build the internal development studio that created Ape Escape. Speaking in Japanese, Yoshida wished the franchise a “congratulations” in a Twitter video, in celebration of the series reaching an impressive milestone.
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“Congratulations on your 20th anniversary! Thank you,” Yoshida said. “I was involved, so it’s strange to celebrate. As a producer of the first Ape Escape, the development team still started with a few people.”
“I’ve always said that Ape Escape is the most important part of my life in producing games, so I think the first Ape Escape in the Ape Escape series is the best. I think it’s an overwhelming difference (laughs).”
"Congratulations on 20th anniversary of Ape Escape."
— Shuhei Yoshida (@yosp) July 4, 2019
While Yoshida may be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the series, there has yet to be any information regarding whether or not Sony plans to release a new game in the franchise. Considering the amount of promotion its anniversary has received from Sony, including opening a pop-up store in Japan, it would feel like a missed opportunity if a game announcement wasn’t made.
Many are hoping for a remastered collection of the original Ape Escape games, even if Ape Escape 4 isn’t a possibility. However, we’ll just have to wait and see if Sony is planning to resurrect the series.
