For as large and ever-present a franchise as The Simpsons is, it doesn’t have the foothold within the online game area you would possibly count on. The wildly well-liked cellular sport The Simpsons: Tapped Out was delisted in 2025, and followers are nonetheless clamoring for a remaster of or sequel to The Simpsons Hit & Run. The current success of Fortnite’s Simpsons crossover exhibits simply how a lot pent-up demand there may be for The Simpsons gaming content material.
Enter Scopely and its well-liked Monopoly Go! cellular sport. Monopoly Go! Will likely be internet hosting a Simpsons-themed crossover occasion that lasts from June 3 by way of July 29. All the sport might be reworked and reimagined by way of the lens of Springfield, USA, as gamers take management of characters like Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa and purchase up iconic locales from the present. The sport might be utterly full of Simpsons references and Easter eggs, together with a brand new gameplay mechanic the place gamers can try to bribe Chief Wiggum to get out of jail.
There’ll even be a narrative element to this The Simpsons occasion, with new chapters unfolding each two weeks. That story kicks off within the type of an animated quick that explores the long-standing rivalry between Mr. Burns and Mr. Monopoly (voiced by none aside from Will Ferrell). You possibly can watch that animated quick right here.
To study extra about what to anticipate from this Monopoly Go!/The Simpsons crossover, IGN spoke with The Simpsons government producer and showrunner Matt Selman, GM of twentieth Century Video games and VP, Enterprise Improvement John Drake, and Scopely’s VP Operations Joe Zanetti. Learn on to study extra about this large crossover and the way it attracts on a long time of The Simpsons lore.
From Fortnite to Monopoly Go!
As talked about, this new crossover is approaching the heels of an enormous collaboration between Fortnite and The Simpsons in late 2025. Epic Video games set a excessive bar for Scopely to fulfill, however all three males really feel this crossover lives as much as that normal. It even has one large benefit over the Fortnite crossover. Fortnite is a skill-based sport, whereas Monopoly Go! is a way more informal expertise with a probably wider viewers.
“Fortnite is tough and requires talent, so we thought we’d give folks the other expertise with this collaboration, a extremely chillax sport,” Selman tells IGN. “You possibly can simply leisurely play with out worrying about getting shot. No snipe nervousness on this, my mates. Only a laid again, maxin’ and relaxin’, form of enjoyable chill-out sport.
Drake provides, “I feel, to Matt’s level, this sport is much much less sweaty than being in a life-or-death wrestle in battle royale.”
It might be straightforward to slap a Simpsons-flavored coat of paint on Monopoly Go! and name it a day, however Selman is adamant that this isn’t what occurred. Scopely put a variety of effort and time into determining find out how to actually make the most of this popular culture mash-up.
“Scopely nailed it,” Selman says. “They actually ran with the Simpsons soccer so superbly as a result of we had been identical to, be subversive, be Simpson-y. Do not simply be a butt-kissy, pointless model collaboration. And so they, in all of the Scopely inventive, they took that notice to coronary heart and stated, ‘We’re going to make this. Like, what is the model of this Bart would like to play? What is the model of this that has that Bart angle of being playful and subversive and never simply straight forward?’ I imply, all of us love the Three Little Pigs chapter of Monopoly Go, however subversiveness is just not the phrase that got here to thoughts whenever you performed it. I imply, they had been undoubtedly cute pigs. They gave you little dices and stuff whenever you whacked these little pigs.”
Drake argues that these two properties are a extra pure match than followers would possibly understand at first look, as a result of they each deal so closely in good-natured mischief.
“I feel we’re lucky that Monopoly Go, and particularly in the way you work together with different folks, already has parts of mischief and destruction, and it’s itself the tradition at scale,” Drake says. “It is such an enormous title of so many individuals enjoying it which are like, how do you discover enjoyable methods to work on issues which are acquainted? After which once more, to Matt’s level, subvert these issues, mess with your pals, have enjoyable moments that aren’t anticipated, and use The Simpsons as a storytelling car to do this, and even, set dressing to do this. I feel that they wildly over-delivered.”
Zanetti agrees, saying, “One factor I am going to add simply rapidly right here is simply, Monopoly has at all times been mischief. And I do know, even within the room, Matt, you had been at all times speaking about, ‘How can we subvert totally different mechanics?’ And we had a variety of totally different ones that got here out of these talks, the place we might, principally, take a look at our jail Monopoly mechanic. How can we mess with that in actually attention-grabbing methods that can shock gamers, how we might take a look at doing little takeover moments that might actually emphasize character interplay. And we have some actually enjoyable flash occasions that do these sorts of moments, and we’re very enthusiastic about it.”
The true enjoyable of this crossover occasion is that there’s really a storyline fueling the occasion, and Selman guarantees that it’ll preserve gamers engaged, even to the purpose that they’ll need to tune out another distractions.
“There’s a variety of battle on the core of The Simpsons. Inter-family battle, inter-friend battle, Homer-Bart battle, Homer versus Marge battle, and from battle, comes drama,” Selman says. “And I actually simply assume, between Scopely and the Simpsons writers that labored on it, it simply actually succeeded in explaining that mission. So perhaps it is so good you would even flip off the TV, otherwise you’re nonetheless watching whereas enjoying. That is how good that is. You’re going to single-screen this factor.”
And if that’s not sufficient, the crossover will provide gamers loads of Simpsons-flavored collectibles to accumulate.
“There’s a variety of enjoyable assortment on this, however I’ll say, there was actually an ideal forwards and backwards between the Simpsons writing group and our crew as we had been going forwards and backwards on these,” Zanetti says. “So I’d simply say, that was a legitimately, actually enjoyable collaboration that our group actually loved.”
Drake provides, “It is a good mixture of throwback iconic issues from the present. The sticker units particularly and unique narratives of how they cross over… ‘How can we mix these two worlds in a enjoyable approach that is by way of a Simpsons lens?’ And I feel that is the place the collaboration is extra… It is like that is the other of a model partnership. It is a true how does a sport inventive group and a present inventive group make one thing that speaks to the followers of each? It is actually thrilling.”
In the end, the crossover works as a result of staff on either side of the equation had been invested in making it occur and taking full benefit of it.
“The enjoyable factor right here was, generally we now have relationships the place the groups don’t play, and with Simpsons, all people’s enjoying on a regular basis,” Zanetti says. “So it is a kind of issues the place they’re giving us very real-time suggestions on all our numerous sport mechanics as we’re doing them. And so it is refreshing. I imply, it is form of superior.”
One suggestion from the twentieth Tv aspect didn’t make the lower, sadly. Selman reveals that his group pitched the concept of renaming the sport “Monopoly D’oh!” However due to search engine optimisation and branding considerations, that didn’t occur.
Mr. Burns vs. Mr. Monopoly
For instance simply how a lot work went into this crossover, Gracie Movies was tasked with creating a complete mini-episode of The Simpsons that units the stage for the occasion. In it, followers can see Harry Shearer’s Mr. Burns going to conflict with Will Ferrell’s Mr. Monopoly, as their decades-old rivalry involves a head. Naturally, loads of different Springfield residents pop up on this video.
“Mr. Pennybags has been on in earlier [episodes] as a crony of Mr. Burns,” Selman says. “So it is one thing that is even laid within the present with these rivalries, with these different wealthy cartoon characters like, Scrooge McDuck, Richie Wealthy, and other people like that. So you then simply actually imagine that there is a deep, lengthy rivalry between Mr. Monopoly and Mr. Burns. Once more, it comes from character, which is so good.”
Zanetti provides, “It is such an ideal billionaire versus billionaire factor for us to have interaction in.”
Selman says that one of many joys of engaged on the mini-episode was the chance to see Shearer and Ferrell play off of one another, noting that this marks the primary time the 2 comedy legends have labored collectively.
“You bought Mr. Burns versus Mr. Monopoly unique animation,” Selman says. “So it is like a five-minute new clip, one thing like that, with Will Ferrell and Harry Shearer. That is legit, the actual deal. And so they had a lot enjoyable doing it. They had been each tremendous into it, and that was nice. Each he and Harry Shearer are comedic icons. And that is cool, that is their first small-screen collaboration, proper?”
However that mini-episode is simply the beginning of the storyline on this crossover. The sport will commonly progress and evolve as this feud performs out within the streets of Springfield.
“There’s this excellent little setup for the arc with our Mr. Monopoly versus Mr. Burns,” Zanetti says. “But in addition the opposite factor that is actually enjoyable is, we have episode drops inside our precise season the place we’re additionally doing like, hey, we will introduce you to the world of Springfield. Hey, we’re in Krustyland, now we will take a look at a nuclear energy plant. And we’re doing virtually an episodic construction to the season… As a result of truthfully, the best way our gameplay rolls and the best way our mini video games occur, it virtually is episodic in nature. So it feeds to the, precisely, that cadence, however that is one thing the place we’re telling little tales inside it which are actually enjoyable, too.”
Drake provides, “And I feel it was necessary for us to indicate all the nice ways in which these worlds can play collectively and that kind of chaotic, ruthless capitalism, like fantasy capitalism is what Monopoly is understood for, as I feel [writer Loni Steele Sosthand] put it within the quick. It isn’t used as the self-esteem or justification for why they’re mixed in-game. And nor are, simply to be actually clear, there follow-up linear animation items for these episodic drops in-game, however we’re capable of inform tales contained in the boards that week. The sticker collections, like all episode of the present, will not be a part of some grasp continuity. They’re, in truth, exploring corners and elements of the world of Springfield and its many voters in methods which are enjoyable and ideally, have some shock and delight moments for followers the place they would not assume Monopoly Go! would go in a sure course primarily based on previous partnerships. And I feel we go there.”
The Simpsons Easter Eggs in Monopoly Go!
Once more, it will have been straightforward for Scopely to easily throw the primary solid of The Simpsons into Monopoly Go! and name it a day. However Zanetti says that they had been intent on mining the collection for all its price and actually digging into the a long time of Simpsons lore.
“We at all times have a variety of totally different tokens, emojis, and issues that you may earn,” Zanetti says. “We do extra on this collaboration than ever as a result of, in fact, Simpsons has this deep backlog of superior characters. And so our factor was, we did not need to simply do… Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart. We wished to do Easter egg deep cuts. And so we had been actually capable of get rather a lot into it. So I feel followers will actually be like, oh, can I accumulate all of those? Can I work out methods to essentially get the complete city?”
Drake teases, “In case you’re in search of some love for Mr. Sparkle. We obtained you.”
Selman provides, “That is the great thing about this, that Scopely’s programmers and creative inventive producers are all, whether or not they comprehend it or not, Simpsons followers, and so they introduced a lot of their fandom to this. It is simply at all times enjoyable to see what they’re enthusiastic about and what they had been like, oh, that is what we need to see within the sport as Simpsons’ followers. In order that’s additionally very heartening and thrilling for us to look at you guys be excited. We see it day-after-day.”
Zanetti says, “We have now achieved extra on this collab than we now have previously, for positive. I feel the most important change is, we actually have achieved extra distinctive options which are actually primarily based on, how we will do enjoyable mechanics with Simpsons, and the way we will actually double down on the subversion factor? And that, fingers down, it is greater than we have ever achieved.”
Drake provides, “And I had the great fortune of being across the Star Wars and the Marvel partnerships that had been achieved earlier than this in our work throughout teams right here, and Scopely has at all times handled the IP with nice care and made positive it actually feels genuine and, on level, for the followers of that. However I feel among the extra high-traffic areas and the way far they had been keen to push it for The Simpsons, undoubtedly exhibits that that is boundary pushing in a variety of ways in which I feel, earlier executions, perhaps, performed it a bit safer. And we’re something however secure in how we companion with firms.”
“Least secure,” Selman agrees. “However one of many nice elements in regards to the sport is day-after-day there is a new mechanic, or each two days. There’s at all times a brand new loopy factor taking place so that you can have interaction with, and so they simply at all times introduced it when it got here to discovering a intelligent, earned, tremendous Simpson-y solution to carry that new little mini sport or aggressive factor or team-up factor, or no matter. They’re simply very cool. I can not wait until you guys see them.”
One distinctive problem posed by this crossover includes find out how to mix the 2 properties visually. How do you are taking the deeply iconic 2D animation model of the present and merge it with Monopoly Go! and the sport’s signature 3D chibi characters? That was one of many tougher features of this venture.
“I’ll say, it was a problem,” Zanetti admits. “We had to have a look at a variety of totally different shaders as a result of principally, what we wished to do was get the Simpsons model as shut as we might. So, wanting on the board, how can we make the board actually really feel prefer it? How can we make Springfield really feel prefer it has jumped into the center of the Monopoly board? After which the opposite one, which was a extremely enjoyable collaboration, was determining our 3D character model, of how we will carry all of the Simpsons characters into what we would name a kind of chibi form of model. They’re all cute and lovely in the easiest way.”
Drake provides, “Earlier collaborations have tailored, kind of like, the vibe and dressing of these characters, hairstyles, outfits on high of the Monopoly kind issue, which is itself, not a one-to-one human form and rig. And I feel with The Simpsons, nicely, we might have gone that course, kind of like, what’s the cosplay model of Monopoly doing The Simpsons? However even these early explorations, no, I imply, these characters stand out as so iconic. I feel the query is greatest, how can we adapt that actually well- recognized and beloved feel and look character model to one thing that’s on mannequin and on kind issue for Monopoly Go? And I feel that it is an enormous testomony to the Scopely artists that they discovered that actually rapidly.”
The Monopoly Go! Simpsons crossover occasion runs from Wednesday, June 3 by way of Wednesday, July 29.
For extra The Simpsons enjoyable, take a look at IGN’s picks for the highest 36 Simpsons episodes.
Jesse is a mild-mannered workers author for IGN. Permit him to lend a machete to your mental thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.
