The beloved Ratchet & Clank series might have been quiet since “Rift Apart” launched in 2021, but that didn’t stop passionate fans from embarking on a quest to find a forgotten title. “Ratchet & Clank: Clone Home,” a mobile game initially announced in the mid-2000s as a successor to the original mobile title “Going Mobile,” was canceled and never officially released. However, a playable copy has now been successfully unearthed and shared online.
The incredible journey to find “Clone Home” was detailed in a video by a prominent gaming community member known as “The Golden Bolt.” Several devoted members of the gaming community contributed to the search, with particular credit going to college students “Emily” and “Super Gamer Omega Clank.” Their breakthrough came when they located a Sony Ericsson W880i phone containing a working version of the game. Cracking the phone’s encryption proved to be the most challenging hurdle, but their persistence ultimately paid off. The video chronicles this extensive, multi-year effort to recover the game, showcasing its gameplay and development.
“Clone Home” introduces a unique narrative: digital clones of Ratchet and Clank team up with their real-world counterparts to thwart Vox, a familiar antagonist from “Going Mobile.” The digital duo initially exists within a game *inside* the game, only for the actual Ratchet and Clank to be transported into that very digital world halfway through the story.
It’s believed that “Clone Home” briefly appeared online by accident before being swiftly removed. While the recovered copy is fully playable, the exact reasons for its cancellation remain unconfirmed. “The Golden Bolt” speculates that a potential legal disagreement between Sony and “Going Mobile” developer Handheld Games might have played a role, also noting that “Clone Home” was likely developed by JavaGround, rather than Handheld Games.
This isn’t the only exciting revelation for Ratchet & Clank enthusiasts in recent times. Earlier this year, Grant Parker, a senior designer for “Rift Apart,” revealed a cleverly hidden minigame within that title that had gone unnoticed. Despite “Rift Apart” being ported to PC in 2023, there’s currently no official word on when, or if, a new sequel for the franchise will be announced.