Toys for Bob Spin-Off: Studio Leaves Activision Blizzard After Novato Office Closure
Toys for Bob, the development studio behind the Skylanders franchise and the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, has announced it is spinning off from Activision Blizzard and re-establishing itself as an independent game development studio.
The move follows recent reductions in staff at Activision Blizzard after Microsoft’s acquisition of the publisher; the San Francisco Chronicle reported that 86 employees were laid off and the studio's physical offices in Novato, California, were closed.
Toys for Bob was founded in 1989 and was acquired by Activision in 2005.
Its most prominent projects include Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure (2011), the Spyro Reignited Trilogy (2018), and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (2020), all of which have been released across console platforms including Nintendo Switch.
In a company blog post, Toys for Bob described the change as a return to a smaller, more nimble development model.
Paraphrasing the studio’s announcement: Toys for Bob said it would spin off as an independent studio to pursue new IP, characters and gameplay experiences, and that the team is in the early stages of developing its next game.
The studio emphasized its history of creating family-friendly and franchise-defining work—citing Skylanders innovation, best-in-class remasters like Spyro Reignited Trilogy, and critically noted entries in the Crash Bandicoot series—and said the new structure will let it build on that legacy.
Toys for Bob also indicated it is "exploring a possible partnership" with Microsoft while remaining optimistic about continued collaboration with former parent companies.
The studio thanked its community and affirmed that Activision and Microsoft have been supportive of the spin-off direction.
The public statement did not disclose a new physical location or a timeline for forthcoming announcements.
What this means for players and the industry: Toys for Bob’s transition adds another example of IP-focused studios reshaping themselves in the post-acquisition landscape.
For Nintendo platform players, the studio’s track record—porting and developing titles for systems including Nintendo Switch—suggests its future work may remain multi-platform, though no platforms or release plans have been confirmed.
Fans can follow Toys for Bob’s official blog for verified updates on the studio’s new projects and any formal partnership details with Microsoft or other publishers.
Toys for Bob, the development studio behind the Skylanders franchise and the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, has announced it is spinning off from Activision Blizzard and re-establishing itself as an independent game development studio.
The move follows recent reductions in staff at Activision Blizzard after Microsoft’s acquisition of the publisher; the San Francisco Chronicle reported that 86 employees were laid off and the studio's physical offices in Novato, California, were closed.
Toys for Bob was founded in 1989 and was acquired by Activision in 2005.
Its most prominent projects include Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure (2011), the Spyro Reignited Trilogy (2018), and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (2020), all of which have been released across console platforms including Nintendo Switch.
In a company blog post, Toys for Bob described the change as a return to a smaller, more nimble development model.
Paraphrasing the studio’s announcement: Toys for Bob said it would spin off as an independent studio to pursue new IP, characters and gameplay experiences, and that the team is in the early stages of developing its next game.
The studio emphasized its history of creating family-friendly and franchise-defining work—citing Skylanders innovation, best-in-class remasters like Spyro Reignited Trilogy, and critically noted entries in the Crash Bandicoot series—and said the new structure will let it build on that legacy.
Toys for Bob also indicated it is "exploring a possible partnership" with Microsoft while remaining optimistic about continued collaboration with former parent companies.
The studio thanked its community and affirmed that Activision and Microsoft have been supportive of the spin-off direction.
The public statement did not disclose a new physical location or a timeline for forthcoming announcements.
What this means for players and the industry: Toys for Bob’s transition adds another example of IP-focused studios reshaping themselves in the post-acquisition landscape.
For Nintendo platform players, the studio’s track record—porting and developing titles for systems including Nintendo Switch—suggests its future work may remain multi-platform, though no platforms or release plans have been confirmed.
Fans can follow Toys for Bob’s official blog for verified updates on the studio’s new projects and any formal partnership details with Microsoft or other publishers.
