In times when studios are being bought up and then often closed, this is unusual news: Toys for Bob is leaving Activision and becoming independent.
If you don’t know anything about the Toys for Bob studio, you’ll have to do a little digging, but you’ll have the aha moment when you find out that the group was responsible for Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time and the Spyro Collection. Previously a subsidiary of Activision, Toys for Bob has now declared its independence and is becoming an indie. At least that’s what the studio announced in a blog post.
Im Statement it says: “Over the years we have awakened the love, joy and laughter of the inner child in all players. […] 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 as a small and nimble studio.”
However, the developers are not arguing, but confirm that both Activision and Microsoft have supported this step. On the contrary, going forward, the studio is currently exploring the possibilities of partnering with Microsoft for future games.
However, we will have to wait a long time for them, because they are apparently still in their very early stages: “And although we are still at the very beginning of the development of our next game and are still a long way from announcing anything, our team is happy to develop new stories, new characters and new gaming experiences.”
A bold step to step out of the safe shadow of Activision? Rather less, as the recent layoffs at Microsoft and Activision Blizzard saw the studio lose 89 employees and a branch had to close, which certainly contributed to the decision. But Toys for Bob are not beginners, the studio has existed since 1989 and had its first success with Star Control. It was taken over by Activision in 2005.
Today Pirmin is once again playing a game on the PS5, namely the PS5 version of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. How is he doing?
