Summary

The recent PlayStation 4 port ofSly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonusis experiencing performance issues, according to a speedrunner who is well-acquainted with the game. However, unlike most performance issues, which can cause a game to stutter or lower its frame rate, this reported performance issue is making theSly Coopergame run too fast, which is causing some unusual problems.

Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonuskicked off the stealth action series when it debuted on PlayStation 2 in September 2002. It later received three sequels and a remastered collection of the first three games. Though the most recent game,Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, was released more than 11 years ago and aSly Cooperinsider has given the bad newsthat no future game is in the works, the originalSly Cooperhas stood the test of time, being ported to PlayStation 3 in 2010, PlayStation Vita in 2014, and most recently, PlayStation 4 and 5 on July 31, 2025.

While the PlayStation 5 version of the game doesn’t seem to be experiencing performance issues,Sly Cooperspeedrunner Bvr_GG has pointed out via Twitter his observation that the PlayStation 4 version of the game runs about ten percent faster than it should, making it feel “very different and bad.” The speedrunner’s words should carry some weight, asaccording to Speedrun.com, he has held the speedruning record forSly 2: Band of Thievesany completion percentage since June 15, 2025, with a time of four hours, 45 minutes, and 54 seconds. Giving an example of the problems caused by the increased speed, Bvr_GG included a video of therhythm game-like boss fight with Mz. Ruby at the end of the game’s third episode, which has Sly dodging attacks by having the player press buttons corresponding to the incoming symbols on the screen. The attacks should be timed to the music, but since the music plays at a normal pace, the lack of audio sync throws off the tempo of the encounter.

Speed Issues In Sly Cooper Aren’t New

While theSly Coopergames have aged wellover more than two decades, thanks to great storytelling, likable characters, and impressive level design, getting them to play at the proper speed doesn’t seem to be a new development. Some fans have pointed out that speed issues have been around sinceThe Sly Collectionwas released for PlayStation 3 in 2010, which was evidenced by the exact same audio sync issue in the Mz. Ruby fight.

This isn’t the first issue to involve theSly Cooperseries in recent memory either. This past March, astrange bug on the PS Plusstreaming service was causing the title screen forSly Cooper: Thieves in Timeto flicker on and off the screen while players were reportedly playing other games, such asStar Wars The Force Unleashed 2and the originalGod of War.

Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus

WHERE TO PLAY

There’s a new thief in town! Spotlights, alarms and infrared lasers. Rooftop chases, narrow escapes and dodging security guards. Grabbing priceless jewels and emptying casinos - it’s like taking candy from a baby. Sly Cooper, the notorious international thief, is out to reclaim what is rightfully his. Prepare to infiltrate the most secure places in the world. He’s one cunning, devious, thievius raccoonus!