What was Crash Bandicoot's temporary development name?

Crash Bandicoot’s temporary development name was Willy the Wombat. Naughty Dog used the name while the team was still deciding what kind of animal and personality would become its new 3D platforming mascot.

During early development, Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin studied Tasmanian mammal references and considered animals including the wombat, potoroo, and bandicoot. Although the eventual character was effectively a bandicoot by late 1994, the working name remained Willy the Wombat for a time.

The name was never intended to be permanent. The developers thought it sounded too awkward for a major game character, and a separate property already used the name. The character was ultimately renamed Crash Bandicoot, combining his species with his habit of smashing crates.

The other options are invented names, but “Willy” and “Willie” can both appear in discussions of the prototype. The canonical development name is generally written as “Willy the Wombat.”