The Simpsons: Hit & Run May Come Back, But Matt Groening’s Tease Isn’t Official Yet
Showrunner Matt Selman quickly walked back Groening's comment, leaving the possible comeback unconfirmed.
The Simpsons: Hit & Run may return in some form, but no new game has been officially confirmed. Matt Groening offered the hopeful tease during a Simpsons event at Disney’s D23 presentation on August 14, 2026, while current showrunner Matt Selman quickly tempered the moment.
When a fan asked whether the 2003 game could come back or receive a sequel, Selman called the possibility “a treat” before Groening said, “I don’t know if I’m speaking out of turn, [but] I think the original game is coming back in some form…” The comment appeared in an Empire post, and the audience reportedly gasped before Selman followed immediately with: “…or not.” Groening then changed the subject and shared an anecdote about the development of the games instead of offering more details.
The panel footage captures the exchange:
The format of a return is still unknown
Groening did not say whether the project would be a remake, remaster, rerelease, sequel, or something else entirely, and neither creator provided a developer, release window, or platforms. Selman’s quick reply made sure the exchange was not treated as a formal announcement, leaving fans with a promising hint rather than a confirmed release.
That is still enough to make Springfield fans pay attention. The Simpsons: Hit & Run launched on Sept. 16, 2003, as Radical Entertainment’s second Simpsons game, following The Simpsons: Road Rage in 2001. It used an open-world driving structure mixed with action-platforming, letting players control Homer, Bart, Lisa, and other characters, drive different vehicles, and follow a story written by The Simpsons writers. Its missions were packed with familiar characters and jokes from the animated series. The game released for GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows PC, but never received a port beyond those original platforms. More than two decades later, fans continue to ask for a modern version, especially after nearly 20 years without a dedicated Simpsons game on console.
For a reminder of how the original played, a PC longplay of The Simpsons: Hit & Run is available below.
Any revival would also have to deal with the licensing and corporate complications that have made a remaster difficult in the past. Vivendi originally published The Simpsons: Hit & Run, and Radical Entertainment reportedly began work on The Simpsons: Hit & Run 2 shortly after launch before the project was canceled after Vivendi declined to renew the license. In a 2023 interview, producer John Melchior said another planned project was a medieval Simpsons game pitched by Groening and being developed at Stormfront after the studio’s work on Lord of the Rings. Melchior also said Vivendi Universal Games rejected an offer to make five more Simpsons games after Hit & Run‘s success. The publisher later lost the license to EA, which released The Simpsons Game in 2007.
Disney owns The Simpsons brand, but the specific approval path for a new Hit & Run project remains unclear. Selman had also avoided ruling out a return in March, though the newer exchange still does not confirm that development has started.
Would you rather see a remake of The Simpsons: Hit & Run or a completely new game based on the series? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
Developed by Radical Entertainment
Strange wasp-shaped spy cameras, shady black vans lingering about, and a brand new flavor of Buzz Cola that everyone seems a bit too excited about. What could it all mean?
Find out as you take to the streets as America's most beloved dysfunctional animated family: The Simpsons! In this timeless action-adventure game, you can work to uncover the conspiracy taking place in Springfield while playing as these beloved characters.
As you progress through the game, you'll explore 3 unique areas of Springfield made up of many locations from the show. You can ride around in style with a memorable array of vehicles from the show or take a walk around on foot. You'll stumble into adrenaline-pumping story missions, take part in some fast paced street races and help out some of the townsfolk in bonus missions. Around every corner there's pesky wasps to be destroyed, collector cards to find and secret gags to uncover.
- Genre Platform, Racing, Adventure
- Platforms Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2
- Perspective Third person
- Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Split screen
- Release September 16, 2003
- Publisher Vivendi Universal Games, Sierra Entertainment
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Age Rating
