The Simpsons: Hit & Run 'Coming Back in Some Form,' Creator Matt Groening Says
The Simpsons: Hit & Run "is coming back in some form," according to series creator Matt Groening.
Yes, at least as far as the mind behind Springfield and the Simpson family is concerned, Vivendi Games and Radical Entertainment's classic 2000s video game spinoff will finally soon let players get behind the wheel again. He shared his comments during a The Simpsons panel at Disney fan event D23 2026, but it sounds like, maybe, he should have pumped the brakes when it came to any announcements for The Simpsons: Hit & Run.
"I think the original game is coming back in some form," Groening said (via Empire).
Just as Groening let it slip that the Grand Theft Auto-inspired game was coming back, current series showrunner Matt Selman stepped in, saying, "…or not." Whoops.
So, is this a premature announcement, or does Groening have it all wrong? It's difficult to say for now, but when the creator of the franchise the game is based on says The Simpsons: Hit & Run is making some sort of return, it's hard not to raise an eyebrow.
The internet felt the same, as social media feeds quickly filled up with joy as it seemed a 23-year drought without the game could soon come to an end. Groening's mentioning of "the original game" suggests players might want to expect something more like a remaster or remake and not a sequel or reboot. It's hard to know exactly what's coming without something a little more concrete, sadly, so until a more official announcement arrives, it's probably best to keep expectations in check.
What a classic! Hopefully it's a remake/remaster for next gen! pic.twitter.com/zZPAWVhNTv— Andre Saint-Albin (@AndreSaintAlbin) August 14, 2026
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What a classic! Hopefully it's a remake/remaster for next gen! pic.twitter.com/zZPAWVhNTv
The Simpsons: Hit & Run originally launched for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and original Xbox in 2003, and all these years later, it remains not only as one of the standout games of the generation but one of the more memorable licensed games of all time. With Springfield re-imagined without losing the show's iconic style, GTA-like gameplay, and the series' iconic sense of humor, it's easy to see why fans have clamored to see it return for all these years.
IGN gave the game an 8.1/10 review. We said at the time that, while it's not a perfect game overall, it's still "undeniably the perfect game for Simpsons fans."
Some of the original The Simpsons: Hit & Run developers said they were shocked it had never made a comeback during an interview with MinnMax in 2023. The years have gone by with few updates, but in March of this year, Selman teased that fans should "never say never."
For now, unfortunately, a The Simpsons: Hit & Run remaster/remake has not been officially announced. Until there is hopefully more to share, you can read about how the rebirth of Radical Entertainment got fans excited earlier this year.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).