So, Bubsy's back.
You know, Bubsy, the talking orange bobcat mascot from the 90s? He's back, with a new 3D game developed by indie studio Fabraz and published by Atari. It's called Bubsy 4D, and it's Bubsy's first 3D adventure since 1996's (notoriously not very good) Bubsy 3D.
Bubsy 4D brings back the alien Woolies, who have returned to Earth to steal its sheep and empower them with Woolie tech. But then, the sheep revolt, creating the BaaBots, who fight back and regain control of The Golden Fleece. Bubsy, in turn, must get the fleece back from the BaaBots, who have taken over planets formerly belonging to the Woolies.
Alongside Bubsy, many familiar faces from his past games are making a return: Terri, Terry, Virgil, and Oblivia. Bubsy 4D will feature a lot that's familiar: 3D movement, platforming, and collectibles. There are also online time trials, and a new hairball form for Bubsy.
Notably, Bubsy 3D didn't exactly go over amazingly. The game initially launched to critical reviews of its controls and camera, and it's only become further panned ever since, even earning spots on some worst games of all time lists. Notably, though, it seems that the studio behind it is aware of its reputation and is being at least a bit cheeky about it:
"It's been a wild ride to work on a sequel to Bubsy 3D, considering its infamous legacy." said Fabian Rastorfer at Fabraz in a press release. "It was really important for us to take this challenge seriously by both identifying what's made the bobcat stick around for so long, while also reinventing parts of the series to work better. I believe Bubsy's move-set is stronger than ever and anyone who's played our previous games will feel right at home with this expressive 3D platformer. I'm incredibly proud of the world we've created and I can't WAIT to see everyone's reactions to this announcement. Surprise!"
Bubsy 4D is coming to PlayStation 5 and 4, Xbox Series and One, Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, and PC at a later date.
You can catch up on everything announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live right here.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
