Matt Groening Teases Simpsons: Hit and Run Return at D23

One of the biggest cult classics from the PS2 era may be getting a new chapter. During a recent Simpsons event at D23, creator Matt Groening suggested that The Simpsons: Hit and Run could return in some form—prompting a quick follow-up from showrunner Matt Selman that left the audience laughing while also adding a note of uncertainty.

Quick facts

The Simpsons: Hit and Run originally released in 2003 for the PS2 era.
The game has remained unavailable on digital platforms for years due to complex licensing issues.
At D23, Groening said he believes the original game will return “in some way.”
Selman immediately added, “Or… not,” in a half-serious, half-joking response.
A 2023 fan remake exists, but the rights situation prevents it from being freely distributed.

The Simpsons: Hit and Run launched in 2003 and built a fast reputation as a colorful, satirical take on open-world action—often remembered as a counterpart to GTA. But despite its popularity, licensing complications have kept it from sticking around reliably on modern digital storefronts, and that same legal friction has also blocked any widely available remaster or sequel.

That long-running barrier is what made Groening’s comment stand out. At the latest D23 gathering tied to a Disney fan club, a Simpsons panel featured Groening alongside other series leadership answering audience questions. One attendee asked whether, after a second Simpsons movie, there was any chance of a second Hit and Run.

Groening replied with cautious optimism, saying he believes the original game “comes back in some way.” He then looked around as if he might have said too much, while Selman turned toward the crowd and added a joking disclaimer: “Or… not.” The reaction from the audience was immediate and playful, with laughter breaking out.

What could “return” mean?

Groening’s wording leaves room for multiple interpretations. The most straightforward possibility is a full remake, since the original is now over two decades old and would almost certainly need substantial updates to feel right by today’s standards. A new license clearance across the many parties involved in the original would also be a more realistic path than simply patching the old version for modern stores.

Another possibility is that the moment was partly performative—a PR-style tease rather than a concrete promise. The comment could have been intentionally staged to generate attention, similar to how major entertainment brands have used “slips” or playful denials as marketing moments in other contexts.

There’s also a simpler, less exciting interpretation: it could have been a misunderstanding. If Groening believed something positive was in motion but it wasn’t, Selman’s quick “Or… not” would make sense as a corrective follow-up. However, the event’s pacing suggests it’s unlikely they’d rely on ambiguity unless they were intentionally keeping details under wraps.

A fan remake shows how tangled the rights are

The game’s legal complexity isn’t theoretical. In 2023, hobby developer Reuben Ward created an ambitious fan remake, demonstrating both demand and technical possibility. Still, because the game rights sit with EA and Disney oversees the Simpsons brand, Ward has not been able to offer the remake as a free download—even though a demo was previously playable.