Hoverboard

Lore & Background

In the world of the Sly Cooper franchise, the Cooper gang relies on a rotating arsenal of gadgets, vehicles, and tools to pull off heists across the globe. The Hoverboard fits into this tradition as a purpose-built piece of mobility equipment, designed to let its rider cover distance quickly while staying above the obstacles and enemies below. Its presence in a mission signals a shift from the series' signature parkour to a more high-speed, less controllable form of traversal.

The board's design reflects the franchise's blend of retro-futuristic aesthetics and practical thief-craft: compact enough to be carried or stowed, yet powerful enough to carry a raccoon, a bear, or a raccoon's best friend across rooftops, canyons, or industrial complexes. It is not a weapon and not a stealth tool; its purpose is purely kinetic — get from A to B fast, and stay airborne long enough to avoid what's in the way.

Within the gang's broader equipment philosophy, the Hoverboard complements rather than replaces the Coyote or other vehicles. Where those handle sustained transport between locations, the Hoverboard handles the burst-movement moments inside a level: the long chase, the gap-crossing, the escape that demands altitude and speed simultaneously.

In Their Own Story

The city hummed below, a grid of neon and rain-slicked asphalt. Bentley called out from the rooftop edge, his paws already tapping a sequence on the board's control panel. The Hoverboard shuddered to life, a low thrum vibrating through the concrete. "You've got maybe ninety seconds before the patrol loops back," he said, not looking up. Sly crouched, tail low, and dropped onto the board. It caught him, tilted forward, and the world smeared into streaks of amber and violet. Ninety seconds. That was enough. That had to be enough.

Reader's Guide

Function: The Hoverboard is a short-duration traversal vehicle. The rider steers left and right, can boost or brake, and gains limited altitude. It is used in specific mission segments rather than as an open-world vehicle.

Wielder: A member of the Cooper gang rides the board during its set-piece segments. The specific rider depends on the entry in which it appears.

Obtaining / Unlocking: The Hoverboard is not a collectible or upgradeable item in the traditional sense. It becomes available when the player reaches the mission segment that calls for it. No separate unlock code or side quest is required — it is part of the level's scripted flow.

Upgrades / Variants: Across later entries in the franchise, the board's handling, boost duration, or visual design may be adjusted to suit the tone of the new setting. Core controls remain consistent: directional input, a boost trigger, and a natural fall-off when the boost is exhausted. No weapon attachments or cosmetic-only variants are part of its core identity.

Tips: Plan your line before you drop onto the board. Boosts are limited per segment, so conserve them for gaps or vertical climbs. You cannot stealth-kill while riding; the board is a pure mobility tool.

Did You Know?

• The Hoverboard is a situational tool, not a permanent vehicle like the Coyote — it appears only in specific mission segments rather than being available throughout a level.
• The Sly Cooper franchise is known for its parkour-based traversal, making any vehicle that removes the player from the ground a notable departure from the series' core movement identity.
• The board's design follows the franchise's broader aesthetic of practical, slightly retro-futuristic thief equipment rather than high-tech sci-fi gadgetry.
• Unlike the Coyote, which is a sustained transport vehicle between locations, the Hoverboard is built for burst movement within a single level.