The first Crash Bandicoot game was released in 1996.
Naughty Dog developed the game for Sony's PlayStation, introducing Crash as an orange bandicoot opposed to the scientist Doctor Neo Cortex. Its North American release arrived on September 9, 1996, followed by a European release on November 8 and a Japanese release on December 9.
The game became one of the defining early PlayStation platformers. Its 3D presentation, camera-following perspective, colorful levels, crate-breaking mechanics, and challenging jumps helped distinguish it during the mid-1990s console era. The title also launched a major franchise for Sony's platform.
Players sometimes confuse 1996 with 1997 because Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back followed in 1997. The 1999 date belongs to a later period of the series and is not the debut year; 1994 was when development began, not when the finished game was released.