Which Crash Bandicoot game was the first to include online multiplayer?

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled was the first Crash Bandicoot game to include online multiplayer. Its online mode lets players race or battle opponents over the internet, expanding the series beyond the local multiplayer of earlier kart racers.

Released in 2019, Nitro-Fueled is a modern remake of the original Crash Team Racing, which debuted on the PlayStation in 1999. The remake preserves the original game's characters, tracks, power-ups, and adventure structure while adding substantial content from Crash Nitro Kart and new visual assets. Online racing was one of its most significant additions.

The distinction matters because earlier games such as Crash Team Racing and Crash Nitro Kart supported multiplayer, but their headline multiplayer experiences were local or console-based rather than the modern online matchmaking offered by Nitro-Fueled. The game could match players worldwide and also supported races with up to eight other players through console online services.

Beenox developed Nitro-Fueled, while Activision published it for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It later became known for combining material from multiple Crash racing games into one online-enabled package.