At Disney’s D23 event, a brief exchange may have inadvertently revealed the future of a beloved Simpsons video game. When asked about the possibility of a sequel to the cult classic The Simpsons: Hit & Run, series creator Matt Groening seemed to let something slip.
Groening replied, “I think the original game is coming back in some form,” before current showrunner Matt Selman added, “or not.” Based on their tone and body language, it sounds like Groening might have shared more than intended.
The original game debuted in 2003 for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and Windows. While it can still be played on modern PCs through some effort, it is absent from today’s consoles. It is not part of the PlayStation Plus Classics Catalog or Microsoft’s backward compatibility program for Xbox. A simple direct port might be one way to bring it back, but the more exciting prospect is a full high definition remaster. The voice cast delivered such a memorable performance the first time that no new recording sessions would be necessary.
Given the outpouring of nostalgia for the game, a return seems overdue. Whether it’s a straightforward re-release or a polished remaster, fans would likely welcome the chance to revisit Springfield’s open world.
For now, we’ll have to wait for an official announcement. But Groening’s comment, however accidental, offers a glimmer of hope for those who have wanted to return to those streets for years.
