A while back, at Sony’s E3 conference in 2014, a mention of the classic duo of Ratchet and Clank being revived for the PlayStation 4 was made when footage of their upcoming movie was shown. However, nothing was specific and there was only radio silence for the past few months on the possible reboot. Today, however, Insomniac Games has announced their intention of creating a whole new game for the PlayStation 4- not just a remastering, but a re-imagination of Ratchet’s origin story to coincide with the developing feature film. In a post on their website, the developer writes that there will be “new planetary adventures, propulsive action, and intergalactic wonder.”
Insomniac plans to continue with their involvement on the Ratchet and Clank CGI film while also developing this completely new installment for the next generation with modernized game mechanics and updated visuals. The project is being led by Design Director Brian Allgeier, Studio Director Chad Dezern, and Game Director Shaun McCade. The California and North Carolina branches of Insomniac will be working together to bring this game to life in what the developer calls their “deepest cross-country collaboration to date.” The project will also involve many of the original developers from the very first Ratchet and Clank game in 2002.
The Ratchet and Clank series is a long-running platformer franchise. The games take place in the science-fiction inspired Solano Galaxy where players follow the adventures of the mechanic Ratchet, a feline-like creature called a Lombox, and his robot partner Clank. The duo makes their way through the universe together, often saving the world from evil as they go. The series is well-known for its many exotic weapons and gadgets.
The movie based on Ratchet and Clank had originally been slated for a release in “early 2015” but, it can most likely be assumed that the film has been pushed back to sometime later this year in order to better coincide with the PlayStation 4 game release.