Uncovering the Lost Sequels: How One Unknown Decision Cancelled Three Follow-Ups for The Simpsons: Hit & Run

Even today, fans hold a special place in their hearts for The Simpsons: Hit & Run. Unfortunately, we missed out on more potential content, all thanks to a key figure in its publishing journey.

When you think of iconic PS2 games, The Simpsons: Hit & Run often comes to mind. It’s hard to find folks who have a negative thing to say about it. Players are still eagerly hoping for a port or remaster, yet there’s been no sign of one. Despite the game’s strong sales and its Grand Theft Auto-inspired vibe, a sequel never came to life. But now, we might finally have a clue as to why. Earlier this month, YouTuber Summoning Salt, known for crafting deep dives into the history of speedrunning games, dropped a video focused on this classic. GamesRadar picked up on a revealing comment from none other than Joe McGinn, the game’s lead designer.

Initially, McGinn’s comment simply expressed how “incredibly fun and heartwarming” the video was from his perspective. But he didn’t stop there. In a follow-up comment, he uncovered a fascinating tidbit: there was a chance for up to three sequels without incurring the usual licensing costs for The Simpsons. McGinn noted that Gracie Films, the show’s production company, had proposed a generous deal to the publisher. They offered all rights and voice actors for future games at no cost—essentially a golden ticket to keep the series rolling without the hefty Simpsons licensing fees.

Naturally, one wonders why such an opportunity wasn’t seized, given the game’s success. McGinn shared that it boiled down to one baffling decision from an unspecified individual at the publishing company—a decision so odd that they never found out who was responsible for turning it down. It’s quite the head-scratcher and an understandable source of frustration for the development team. Now, two decades later, it’s too late to change what happened. Still, there’s hope that one day, a port might finally see the light of day.