The most recent round of layoffs at Microsoft from the Activision Blizzard merger had put the future of developer Toys for Bob in jeopardy. After successfully revitalizing Spyro and even working on Crash Bandicoot 4, it looked as if the company would be closed down as Microsoft enters its latest era. Thankfully, there is some good news for fans of the talented studio.
Toys for Bob is going indie!
In one of the best stories from 2024 so far, the acclaimed developer has announced that it is spinning off into an independent game studio. In a post on the company’s official website, studio heads Paul Yan and Avery Lodato write, “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.”
Microsoft Partnership
Alongside this news comes a possible look into the future of the revamped Toys for Bob. While having bought its independence away from Microsoft, the developer is looking into a possible partnership with the company to continue creating games. What this likely means is that while Toys for Bob’s new IP will be smaller scale and independently owned, it could potentially be looking at creating a new Spyro or Crash game for Microsoft.
Both Yan and Lodato write that Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are supportive of this latest move, so it stands to reason that everyone is willing to play ball here. I won’t jump to conclusions, but this could mean big things for the future. At any rate, at least Toys for Bob isn’t crashing and burning under the weight of corporate mergers.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
