Developer Plans for Three Sequels of The Simpsons: Hit & Run Derailed by Unknown Decision-Maker

Even now, The Simpsons: Hit & Run continues to be adored by gamers around the world, and it seems there was potential for even more to enjoy if not for one key decision by someone involved in its publishing.

When you think about classic PS2 games, few are held in such high regard as The Simpsons: Hit & Run. It’s a title that has rarely faced any criticism, and people are still eagerly waiting for a port or a much-anticipated remaster, although neither has come to fruition. Despite its significant sales figures at the time, a sequel never came about, but we might finally have a clue as to why. Earlier this month, a YouTuber known as Summoning Salt, who’s renowned for crafting extensive documentaries on speedrunning histories, released a video focused on The Simpsons: Hit & Run. As highlighted by GamesRadar, the game’s original lead designer, Joe McGinn, left a revealing comment on the video.

McGinn initially expressed how enjoyable and touching the documentary was from his perspective as the lead designer. In a follow-up comment, he revealed that there were plans for up to three additional sequels, and remarkably, without any need to pay for The Simpsons licensing itself. He detailed how Gracie Films, the production company behind The Simpsons, had offered their publisher a deal for three sequels which included rights and voice actors—all for the cost of zero dollars for the licensing.

You might be wondering, with such an amazing opportunity and considering how successful the original game was, why wasn’t this project given the green light? McGinn explained further, lamenting that “some crazy person at the publisher – we never found out who – turned it down.” This decision, undeniably baffling, was certainly a source of frustration for the development team. Two decades later, while it’s too late to change history, there remains a glimmer of hope for fans that a port might still happen someday.