Update 25/3: Windows Central has now reported, via sources familiar with the event, that a recent internal townhall meeting within Microsoft has shed some light on the situation around Toys for Bob’s independence and its next moves.
Echoing the studio’s earlier sentiment that a further partnership with Microsoft wasn’t off the table, Xbox content leader Matt Booty apparently told attendees that an agreement had been made between the two and that Toys for Bob’s next project would be something along the lines of what it’s produced in the past.
Whether this means that TFB is still working within franchise like Spyro the Dragon and Crash Bandicoot or on something entirely new remains to be seen. As many have already pointed out, putting the team onto a Banjo-Kazooie revival of some kind feels like a bit of a no-brainer, though it’s hard to have faith in that franchise ever making a real comeback.
Original Story: After it was hit by the larger round of layoffs across Xbox studios last month, Toys For Bob – the team behind Crash Bandicoot 4, Skylanders and the excellent Spyro remasters – has announced that it’s leaving the care of Activision and becoming a fully independent studio.
TFB revealed the news in a blog post, saying that it will return to be a “small and nimble studio” and is already in the early stages of developing its next game with “new stories, new characters and new gameplay experiences.”
While the studio presumably won’t continue to make Spyro or Crash games independently since it doesn’t hold the rights, it has also revealed it’s exploring a possible partnership directly with Microsoft.
Coincidentally, it’s also been revealed that TFB’s competitive multiplayer platformer Crash Team Rumble is ending its live service as of this month with a final content update dropping on March 4th. The game will continue to function as normal, but no more content updates will release and players will have access to a free 500-tier battle pass covering all previously-released seasonal content.
You can read the full note on Toys For Bob’s newfound independence below:
Some changes underway… https://t.co/JACzLFiAho pic.twitter.com/95cZPfVxJ2
— Toys For Bob (@ToysForBob) February 29, 2024
“We’re thrilled to announce that Toys for Bob is spinning off as an independent game development studio!
“Over the years, we’ve inspired love, joy, and laughter for the inner child in all gamers. We pioneered new IP and hardware technologies in Skylanders. We raised the bar for best-in-class remasters in Spyro Reignited Trilogy. We’ve taken Crash Bandicoot to innovative, critically acclaimed new heights.
“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.
“To make this news even more exciting, we’re exploring a possible partnership between our new studio and Microsoft. And while we’re in the early days of developing our next new game and a ways away from making any announcements, our team is excited to develop new stories, new characters, and new gameplay experiences.
“Our friends at Activision and Microsoft have been extremely supportive of our new direction and we’re confident that we will continue to work closely together as part of our future.
“So, keep your horns on and your eyes out for more news. Thank you to our community of players for always supporting us through our journey. We can’t wait to share updates on our new adventure as an indie studio!
“Talk to you soon!”
