The Simpsons: Hit and Run may finally be returning, more than two decades after its original release.
Simpsons creator Matt Groening offered the clearest signal yet at this year's D23 event. In an interview with Empire Magazine at the event, Groening said, "I think the original game is coming back in some form…" before quickly adding, "or not." Screen Rant reported the tease, noting the ambiguity but observing that it would be unusual for Groening to raise the subject without something in development.
The original Hit and Run launched in 2003 for the PlayStation 2. It functioned as a GTA-style Simpsons game and became an immediate fan favorite. A sequel was reportedly in development at Radical Entertainment following its success, but the project was never completed. The Simpsons rights holders reportedly offered publisher Vivendi a deal to make five more Simpsons games, but Vivendi declined, ending what could have become a significant franchise.
Groening's comments follow a string of other signals. In March 2026, Simpsons showrunner Matt Selman said "never say never" about a revival and acknowledged awareness of fan demand. Before that, video game industry reporter Jordan Middler teased a possible remake in a podcast episode back in June, triggering a wave of social media speculation.
Developer activity has added another layer to the story. Key members of the original Radical Entertainment team have since regrouped under the name New Radical Games, a studio that prominently features Hit and Run in its portfolio and offers remastering and porting services. That detail has fueled strong speculation that a remake or remaster could already be in some stage of production.
In the absence of an official announcement, the game's fan community has taken matters into its own hands. Donut Team has continued to support Lucas' Hit and Run Mod Launcher, and unofficial remastered versions with upgraded textures, improved graphics, controller support, and new dialogue have been produced independently. A separate fan project built in Unreal Engine demonstrated how the game could look on modern hardware.
No official release date or publisher has been announced. But between Groening's D23 remarks, Selman's earlier comments, and the emergence of New Radical Games, the question of whether Hit and Run returns may now be more a matter of timing than possibility.
