Activision studio Toys for Bob is going independent, exploring future partnership with Xbox
What you should know
- Toys for Bob, one of many studios underneath Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard, is going unbiased.
- Best recognized for engaged on video games just like the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, the group has primarily labored in a help position on Call of Duty for the previous few years.
- While the group is going unbiased, the corporate is exploring a partnership with Microsoft.
Another studio is breaking away from its dad or mum firm.
Microsoft’s Activision studio Toys for Bob, finest recognized for engaged on video games just like the Spyro Reignited Trilogy in addition to offering help on the Call of Duty franchise, is breaking away as an unbiased studio, as shared by the studio’s management on Thursday.
“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,” write chief inventive officer Paul Yan and studio head Avery Lodato.
“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.”
As layoffs proceed, some studios are going unbiased
The begin of 2024 has been brutal for staff within the gaming business, with a number of thousand laid off simply two months in to the 12 months, together with throughout Microsoft, which was primarily centered on Activision Blizzard, Sony-owned PlayStation, Electronic Arts, and plenty of extra.
Amid the layoffs, a handful of firms now appear to be going unbiased or discovering non-public possession. Earlier on Thursday, a report broke indicating that Embracer Group was promoting Saber Interactive to personal buyers in a deal value $500 million.
Analysis: A stunning flip of occasions, however I’m hopeful for the future
I’m positively shocked to see Toys for Bob breaking away by itself proper now, however this is actually a vastly preferable various to the studio being shut down or persevering with to solely work on Call of Duty titles.
I’d been hoping that after Activision Blizzard was acquired by Microsoft that the group can be engaged on extra Crash and Spyro video games. Maybe that’ll nonetheless occur within the future, or perhaps the partnership with Microsoft shall be one thing utterly new. Regardless, I’m hopeful for this newly-independent group’s future.
