Highlights

  • Insomniac's Ratchet and Clank franchise is on hiatus, with the next game possibly arriving in 2029, according to leaks.
  • A new Ratchet and Clank game could align with the release of the PS6, showcasing the new console's capabilities and solidifying the series' legacy.
  • Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart for PS5 set the standard for showcasing next-gen abilities, so the next game could try to do the same on PS6.

The Ratchet and Clank franchise is one of the most iconic series to be introduced in the 21st century. However, developer Insomniac's long-running franchise has entered a bit of a hiatus as of late. As the wait for more Ratchet and Clank continues, this may ultimately prove to be some good news not just for the franchise, but for PlayStation as a whole.

Last year, one of the biggest controversies of 2023 involved Insomniac and the invasive leaks that hit the company. Information and footage from the upcoming Wolverine game and the developer's planned roadmap for the next few years was completely leaked on the internet, causing a huge stir in the gaming world. One of the most interesting bits of information to come from these leaks was claims that the next Ratchet and Clank wouldn't be arriving until 2029. At first, this seems like bad news, but it could ultimately pay off for the series.

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Ratchet and Clank Could Bring Forth a New Era

It's disappointing to see such a faraway release date on paper, but this doesn't have to be all bad. With there potentially being five whole years until audiences get another dose of Ratchet and Clank, there is also a lot of time for not only the franchise to evolve, but PlayStation as well.

Ratchet and Clank as a Next Gen PlayStation Release

Based on PlayStation's history, the next console from Sony may be eyeing a 2027/2028 release date. There were seven years between the release of the PS3 and PS4, and this same pattern was followed by the PS4 and PS5. If Sony is looking at another seven-year window between releases, then the latter half of the 2020s could see the arrival of the PS6. When looking at the Insomniac roadmap, this makes it probable that a new Ratchet and Clank will be a next gen release.

Of course, there is the question about whether the notorious supply shortage of the PS5 will push back the PS6's release window or not, but that still leaves enough of a time frame for the next Ratchet and Clank to exclusively be a PS6 title. Despite the release date, Ratchet and Clank's next entry will be a special game due to being the 10th mainline game in the franchise, but it will also likely have the chance to cement itself as an important release at the beginning of the PS6's life cycle.

Ratchet and Clank's Evolution

As one of the first games to be released exclusively for the PS5, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart got to have the exciting honor of showcasing the console's abilities. Playing Rift Apart was an exciting demonstration of the PS5, and Insomniac's future plans imply that the developer is gearing up to do the exact same thing for the eventual PS6. Since Insomniac is now owned by Sony, it only makes sense that the developer would want to use its game to showcase the full capabilities of the company that the studio is under.

Through the years, the Ratchet and Clank franchise has grown into one of the biggest platformer series around. As of now, there may not be any official confirmation that the next Ratchet and Clank is being planned as a PS6 exclusive, but the timing is just a little bit too perfect for that to not be the case.