What you need to know
- Toys for Bob, one of the studios under Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard, is going independent.
- Best known for working on games like the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, the team has primarily worked in a support role on Call of Duty for the past few years.
- While the team is going independent, the company is exploring a partnership with Microsoft.
Another studio is breaking away from its parent company
Toys for Bob, the renowned Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard studio responsible for games like the Spyro Reignited Trilogy and providing support on the Call of Duty franchise, has announced its decision to become an independent studio, as stated in a recent blog post shared by the studio’s leadership on Thursday.
The chief creative officer, Paul Yan, and studio head, Avery Lodato expressed their anticipation, stating, “With the same enthusiasm and passion, we believe that now is the time to take the studio and our future games to the next level. This opportunity allows us to return to our roots of being a small and nimble studio.”
Further adding to the excitement, Yan and Lodato hinted at a potential partnership with Microsoft for their new studio. While still in the early stages of the new game’s development, the team is excited to create new stories, characters, and unique gameplay experiences.
As layoffs continue, some studios are going independent
As the year 2024 begins, the gaming industry has witnessed a devastating wave of layoffs, resulting in thousands of talented individuals losing their jobs in companies such as Microsoft (specifically Activision Blizzard), Sony-owned PlayStation, Electronic Arts, and many others.
Strikingly, amid these layoffs, a few studios have made the push towards independence or sought private ownership. Notably, Saber Interactive, developer of games like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, was recently sold by Embracer Group in a deal amounting to $500 million.
Analysis: A surprising turn of events, but I’m hopeful for the future
The announcement that Toys for Bob has chosen to break away and independently pursue its endeavors comes as a surprising, but welcome, development. This decision offers a much brighter alternative to the potential closure of the studio or the continuation of a limited focus on the Call of Duty franchise.
As a longtime enthusiast, I had been hoping that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft would pave the way for more exciting entries in the Crash and Spyro game series. While the future remains unclear, this newfound independence, as well as the prospective partnership with Microsoft, opens up a realm of possibilities. I am optimistic about the future of this talented independent team.
