What you should know
- Lately, Microsoft acquired Activision-Blizzard-King in a blockbuster $72 billion deal that gave the software program big management over franchises like Name of Responsibility, World of Warcraft, and Sweet Crush Saga.
- Included within the acquisition was legendary studio Toys for Bob, who’ve labored on franchises like Skylanders, Spyro the Dragon, and Crash Bandicoot, throughout a 30-year historical past.
- Final month, Microsoft and Toys for Bob agreed to half methods with the latter spinning out into an impartial firm.
- Our sources have confirmed that Toys for Bob has now finalized an settlement with Xbox to fund their first title.
Microsoft lastly completed its blockbuster acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King a couple of months in the past, giving the agency management over mega franchises like Name of Responsibility, Sweet Crush Saga, and World of Warcraft.
As a part of the acquisition, Microsoft additionally snapped up a ton of different studios and franchises, together with traditional Activision sport sequence’ like Guitar Hero, Skylanders, and lots of extra.
In yesteryear, the legendary workforce at Toys for Bob had been instrumental in constructing out Activision’s massive Skylanders franchise, which included toys-to-life gameplay components, much like Nintendo’s amiibo line. Gamers might purchase small collectible figurines with NFC chips baked in, after which place these characters inside the Skylanders online game through a USB peripheral “portal.” Toys for Bob additionally remastered numerous Crash Bandicoot titles, in addition to producing a fourth instalment “Crash Bandicoot 4: It is About Time.” Nevertheless, in recent times and through the Covid-19 pandemic particularly, Toys for Bob had been more and more leaned on by Activision to assist the monolithic Name of Responsibility effort, working as a assist studio on numerous entries within the sequence.
Sources have indicated to me beforehand that Toys for Bob’s tradition did not gel properly with Activision’s oft-restrictive company mandates, and so they had been excited for the chance to spin out as impartial in settlement with Microsoft. After they initially spun out, they launched an announcement indicating that they had been “assured” they’d work with Activision and Xbox sooner or later and that they had been exploring a “potential” partnership. It now appears these talks have bared fruit.
Toys for Bob has reaches an settlement with Xbox
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Throughout a latest townhall assembly described to us by sources aware of the occasion, a staffer requested the panellists about Toys for Bob, given that they are now going impartial separate from Microsoft and Activision. Toys for Bob’s management was adamant about preserving the workforce collectively, and likewise about returning to the fashion of sport the studio is thought for.
Microsoft referenced how they spun out Twisted Pixel prior to now, instead choice to shuttering studios. Matt Booty, now main Xbox’s sport content material division, reportedly stated that an settlement has now been reached between Xbox and Toys for Bob for his or her first sport as an impartial studio. Nevertheless, he stopped in need of describing precisely what it is going to be, though he did say one thing alongside the strains of, and I am paraphrasing, “it is going to be much like video games Toys for Bob has made prior to now.”
Toys for Bob could also be impartial, however the truth they informed followers to “hold their horns on” might be in reference to Spyro the Dragon, which enjoys a passionate fanbase to at the present time. The humorous 3D platformers that Toys for Bob is commonly related to are nonetheless owned by Microsoft, however for now, haven’t any devoted developer. It appears fully doubtless that Toys for Bob’s first sport out of the gate might both be inside the Crash or Spyro pantheon, however it may be one thing else fully, maybe Toys for Bob’s very personal IP. Maybe long-suffering Banjo Kazooie followers might get a glimmer of hope from this deal too. Both means, it is extremely encouraging to see Toys for Bob will proceed to get to do their very own factor, whereas additionally retaining their workforce and tradition. Maybe the sport will present up day one on Xbox Recreation Cross as properly?
The story of Toys for Bob has been a little bit of a refreshing brilliant spot in an trade that has been fraught with layoffs, tightened budgets, and elevated prices in recent times.