The Destroy All Humans! series was applauded for its simple, destructive gameplay and tongue-in-cheek narrative during the PS2/Xbox era. Developed by Pandemic, the studio behind the original Star Wars: Battlefront games, Destroy All Humans! enjoyed a decent amount of success in its prime, but then faded away not long into the next console generation. Despite this, a loyal fanbase has been calling for a continuation of this wacky science-fiction power fantasy.
The first Destroy All Humans! was given the remake treatment in 2020, and now its sequel is due for a similar facelift this year in Destroy All Humans! 2 Reprobed. These comebacks for series have opened up conversation about whether they'll be building up to the announcement of a brand-new installment. The franchise does have a decent enough following to warrant one, and the resurgence following these remakes has been met positively. However, there are just as many reasons why it isn't feasible to expect a new Destroy All Humans! game.
Why a New Destroy All Humans! Could Happen
As mentioned, the original Destroy All Humans! games have garnered a cult following of fans that enjoy the wild antics provided by these sandbox-action games. The remake also opened doors to a wider audience, likely attracting new fans. This was complemented by good reviews and a respectable number of about one million units sold.
Furthermore, recent remakes and remasters tend to predate the announcement of a proper follow-up. Bringing back older titles with a fresh coat of paint is a solid method of attracting new fans, while also reinvigorating interest in content that carries on its legacy. For example, he original Crash Bandicoot trilogy received remasters in 2017 - just a few years before the reveal of Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, a completely new entry into the long-dormant platforming franchise.
Why a New Destroy All Humans! May Not Happen
All that being said, there are a number of reasons why a new Destroy All Humans! may not happen. While the sci-fi insanity present in these titles does appeal to a number of fans, it is still niche compared to numerous other franchises on the market. Video game development is an expensive and time-consuming process, so a studio will only want to invest in new projects if there is a guarantee of a positive return. While a video game remaster surely has its challenges, creating an entirely new game from scratch is more difficult in a lot of ways.
It remains to be seen how well the upcoming remake, Destroy All Humans! 2 Reprobed, performs in terms of sales and reviews, but even so the franchise doesn't have the same widespread appeal as something like the aforementioned Crash Bandicoot series. For the sake of comparison, the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy sold 10 million copies, dwarfing the one-million total for the remake of Destroy All Humans!. While still a respectable total, it clearly didn't have the same effect on the masses as other legacy franchises do.
Gambles aren't as common in the gaming industry nowadays, and for that reason a third Destroy All Humans! title may never see the light of day. Yet this is all based on past information, and the future is always uncertain. Depending on how well the remake for Destroy All Humans! 2 does, plans may very well be put forward to bring this series back in full form. Until then, fans will just have to enjoy these shiny new versions of the original titles that started it all.
Destroy All Humans! 2: Reprobed launches August 30 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
