The Simpsons: Hit & Run Could Finally Be Coming Back

Aug 15, 2026

One of the most beloved licensed games of the PlayStation 2 era may finally be getting another chance at life.

The Simpsons creator Matt Groening has sparked speculation that The Simpsons: Hit & Run could be making a comeback, more than two decades after the fan-favorite game originally launched.

The unexpected tease came during a Simpsons presentation at Disney’s D23 event. According to Video Games Chronicle, Groening appeared to suggest that Hit & Run would be returning before showrunner Matt Selman quickly interrupted him.

Exactly what that means, however, remains a mystery.

Did Matt Groening Just Reveal Hit & Run’s Return?

Groening’s comments are particularly interesting because there has been no formal announcement of a new Simpsons: Hit & Run project.

At this point, fans should not treat the comments as confirmation of a remake or remaster. There has been no officially announced developer, release date, platform list or even confirmation of what form a potential return would take.

Still, the exchange is enough to reignite years of speculation surrounding the game.

If something really is happening with Hit & Run, there are several possibilities. Disney could be preparing a straightforward remaster of the original, a full remake built for modern hardware, a re-release of the classic game, or potentially an entirely new project inspired by Hit & Run.

Until an official announcement arrives, all of those possibilities remain speculation.

Why The Simpsons: Hit & Run Still Matters

Originally released in 2003, The Simpsons: Hit & Run was developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games.

Rather than simply recreating episodes of the television series, the game placed players inside an explorable version of Springfield. Players could drive around town, complete missions, collect items and interact with dozens of familiar characters and locations.

Its open environments and driving-focused gameplay inevitably drew comparisons to Grand Theft Auto, although Hit & Run transformed the formula into something appropriate for the colorful and ridiculous world of The Simpsons.

Players took control of Homer, Bart, Lisa, Marge and Apu across the game’s story while investigating a bizarre conspiracy unfolding throughout Springfield.

For an entire generation of players, however, the story almost became secondary to simply exploring the town.

Driving Homer’s pink sedan through Springfield, smashing through objects, hunting collectibles and discovering references to the television series helped turn Hit & Run into something much larger than another licensed game.

More than 20 years later, fans are still asking for its return.

Fans Have Wanted a Remake for Years

Calls for a Hit & Run remake have become remarkably persistent.

Unlike many licensed games from the early 2000s, the title never received a modern remaster or widespread digital re-release. Playing the original today generally means owning the older hardware and a physical copy of the game.

That has only strengthened interest in bringing it to current platforms.

The game’s reputation has also benefited from nostalgia surrounding the sixth-generation console era. Hit & Run arrived during the height of the PlayStation 2, original Xbox and Nintendo GameCube generation, and it remains one of the licensed games most closely associated with that period.

A modern release would therefore have an obvious audience: older players who remember the original alongside younger Simpsons fans who have never had an easy way to play it.

What Could a Modern Hit & Run Look Like?

A full remake could potentially give Springfield a dramatic overhaul.

Modern hardware could allow developers to create a more seamless version of the town, increase traffic and pedestrian density, improve vehicle handling and expand the number of recognizable locations players can visit.

There would also be opportunities to incorporate characters, locations and jokes introduced during the more than two decades of The Simpsons episodes produced since the original game’s release.

But there is also an argument for leaving the core experience largely untouched.

Part of Hit & Run’s appeal comes from its simplicity. A carefully produced remaster featuring higher-resolution visuals, improved performance, modern controller support and quality-of-life improvements could be enough to bring the game back without fundamentally changing what fans loved about it.

Don’t Start the Canyonero Just Yet

As exciting as Groening’s comments may be, there’s an important distinction between a tease and an announcement.

Right now, there is no officially revealed The Simpsons: Hit & Run remake, remaster or sequel.

But the fact that the game’s name is being discussed publicly in this context is significant—especially after years of fans asking for its return.

Whether Groening genuinely revealed something earlier than intended or was simply having some fun with the audience remains to be seen.

If an official announcement is coming, though, The Simpsons: Hit & Run would be returning to a gaming landscape very different from the one it left behind in 2003.

And judging by the game’s enduring popularity, Springfield probably wouldn’t have much trouble finding drivers willing to come back.

Would you rather see a faithful remaster of The Simpsons: Hit & Run, a complete remake, or a brand-new sequel? Let us know what you’d want from a modern return to Springfield.