Is Sly Cooper on Switch

Sly Cooper is a name that brings back a wave of nostalgia for many gamers, especially those who grew up playing on PlayStation consoles in the early 2000s. With its mix of stealth, platforming, and clever storytelling, the Sly Cooper series became a beloved franchise. As more classic titles and remasters find their way onto modern consoles, particularly the Nintendo Switch, fans of the franchise often ask: is Sly Cooper on Switch? The answer, as of now, is no Sly Cooper is not available on the Nintendo Switch. The series remains exclusive to the PlayStation platform, and there are no confirmed plans to bring it to the Switch anytime soon.

The History of Sly Cooper

Developed by Sucker Punch Productions, the first game in the Sly Cooper series, Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, was released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2. It was followed by two sequels: Sly 2: Band of Thieves in 2004 and Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves in 2005. These titles combined stealth-based gameplay with platforming mechanics and a comic book art style that made the series stand out.

The franchise received a revival in 2013 with Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, developed by Sanzaru Games. This installment carried the spirit of the original trilogy into the PlayStation 3 era, adding new time-traveling mechanics and updated visuals. All mainline games remain tied to PlayStation hardware, either on PS2, PS3, or through the PlayStation Vita handheld system.

Availability on Nintendo Switch

Despite the growing number of third-party games on the Nintendo Switch and the increasing trend of classic titles being ported or remastered, Sly Cooper is not available on the Switch. There is no official version of any of the Sly Cooper games on the Nintendo eShop, and no physical release has been made for the platform either.

Reasons for Sly Cooper Not Being on Switch

• Platform Exclusivity– Sly Cooper is a Sony-owned intellectual property, and the original games were developed by studios working closely with Sony Interactive Entertainment.
• Publisher Control– As a Sony-published series, Sly Cooper is protected under the company’s first-party game umbrella, which rarely sees releases on non-PlayStation consoles.
• Lack of Recent Activity– With no new Sly Cooper game in development or announced in recent years, there’s been no movement to revive or re-release the series on any platform, let alone the Switch.

Is There Hope for a Sly Cooper Port on Switch?

At the moment, there is no indication from Sony, Sucker Punch, or Sanzaru Games that any Sly Cooper titles will be ported to the Nintendo Switch. Sony has historically kept its exclusives within its ecosystem, especially when it comes to legacy franchises like Sly Cooper, Ratchet & Clank, or Jak and Daxter.

While Sony has shown some flexibility in bringing certain titles like Horizon Zero Dawn or Spider-Man to PC, these moves do not suggest a change in policy toward Nintendo’s platforms. The Switch, despite its popularity, remains outside Sony’s ecosystem, and there’s no business incentive currently pushing for a Sly Cooper Switch release.

Speculative Scenarios That Could Change Things

• If Sony ever develops a partnership with Nintendo, which is highly unlikely but not impossible in the long term.
• If Sly Cooper receives a remake or reboot and is developed by a third-party studio with cross-platform support.
• Should PlayStation implement a cloud gaming or subscription model accessible via other devices, including Switch.

As things stand, these are merely hypotheticals. The reality is that Sly Cooper continues to be a dormant franchise under Sony’s control, with no cross-platform intentions revealed.

Current Ways to Play Sly Cooper

For those who want to revisit the Sly Cooper series, the best way remains through PlayStation hardware. Here’s how you can still access the games today:

PlayStation 3

• The Sly Collection includes remastered versions of the original trilogy.
• Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is available as both a disc and digital download.

PlayStation Vita

• Offers portable versions of The Sly Collection and Thieves in Time.
• Save data is transferable between PS3 and Vita versions with cross-save support.

PlayStation Now / Plus Premium (in supported regions)

• Streaming versions of Sly Cooper games may be available through Sony’s cloud gaming service.

Backwards Compatibility

Unfortunately, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 do not natively support PS3 discs. However, cloud streaming through PlayStation Plus Premium remains an option for those systems, depending on regional availability.

Why the Sly Cooper Series Still Matters

Sly Cooper is more than just a relic of the PlayStation 2 era it represents a beloved blend of stealth, platforming, and storytelling that left a lasting impression on players. The game’s characters Sly, Bentley, and Murray remain some of the most charming and memorable in the PlayStation lineup.

The franchise also stands out due to its unique tone. It combines cartoony visuals with clever writing and challenging gameplay, appealing to both younger and older players. The lack of recent releases has only heightened interest in a potential reboot, port, or remaster.

Community Demand

• Online forums and fan campaigns regularly call for a new Sly Cooper game.
• Petitions for remakes or remasters often circulate among fans of retro PlayStation titles.
• Speculation continues to appear before every major PlayStation Showcase, though no announcements have come.

Alternative Games on Switch

While Sly Cooper may not be on the Nintendo Switch, there are other games on the platform that might appeal to fans of stealth and platforming action.

Recommended Alternatives

• Mark of the Ninja: Remastered– A stealth-focused 2D game with deep mechanics and stylish visuals.
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy– Another classic PlayStation-era mascot platformer that made its way to Switch.
• SteamWorld Heist– A tactical platformer with clever stealth and shooting elements.
• A Hat in Time– A modern 3D platformer with a similar whimsical tone and strong level design.

These games won’t fully replace the experience of Sly Cooper, but they offer enjoyable adventures with some thematic or mechanical overlap.

So, is Sly Cooper on Switch? Unfortunately, no. The series remains a PlayStation-exclusive franchise with no current versions available on Nintendo’s hybrid console. While fans continue to hope for a remaster, reboot, or cross-platform release, no official plans have been announced. For now, Sly Cooper can only be played through older PlayStation hardware or cloud services within the PlayStation ecosystem. Despite this limitation, the character and his stories continue to live on in the memories of fans, fueling hopes that one day, the master thief might return for a new generation of gamers perhaps even on the Switch, if fate allows it.