The recent announcement from Toys for Bob about its transition to independence just gave Spyro and Crash Bandicoot fans a reason to celebrate.
The 35-year-old studio, recently heralded for its masterful work on Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time and Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, is now stepping out from under Activision Blizzard’s umbrella. Following layoffs and the shuttering of its office due to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision, Toys for Bob is embarking on a new journey, possibly as a way to avoid eventual closure itself. This move, depending on who you ask, opens up a realm of possibilities for the future of two beloved franchises.
Toys for Bob’s leap towards independence lets it reclaim its creativity and flexibility. The studio has expressed a desire to return to its origins as a “small and nimble studio,” so it can focus on innovative stories, characters, and gameplay experiences. Depending on how you look at it, it’s a focus that aligns perfectly with the imaginative and whimsical worlds of Spyro and Crash Bandicoot, which have always thrived on innovation and charm.
The prospect of Toys for Bob partnering with Microsoft again suggests a hopeful future for the franchises. While the studio may not own the rights to Spyro or Crash Bandicoot, the epxressed interest from both parties hint at the possibility of future collaborations. Such partnerships could pave the way for new entries in these series, developed with the creative freedom that an independent Toys for Bob can now enjoy.
Toys for Bob’s history with pioneering IPs and hardcore technologies like Skylanders is demonstrative of its capability to innovate within and beyond existing franchises.
Toys for Bob’s transition to independence could lead to the development of brand new IPs that carry the spirit of Spyro and Crash Bandicoot into new territories, offering fans fresh and exciting worlds to explore.
One of the best pair of platformers in recent memory, Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps, are licensed by Microsoft to Moon Studios. It’s not difficult to imagine a similar scenario happening with Toys for Bob.
Of course, given Toys for Bob’s history and enthusiasm to explore new creative avenues, its newfound independence could be what fuels its next big project, regardless of whether it’s a new Spyro or Crash Bandicoot or an entirely new adventure.
