As Toys for Bob continues its work on Spyro: A Realm Beyond, associate creative director Lou Studdert has spoken about the recent resurgence of 3D platforming games with the popularity of games like Astro Bot and the excitement of upcoming releases like Rayman Legends Retold.
In an interview with the Kinda Funny Gamescast, Studdert, along with studio head Paul Yan, was asked about whether the industry is currently in a new “golden era” when it comes to 3D platformers.
“I don’t know about golden era, but it’s a resurgence. Definitely,” replied Studdert, who went on to say that it “warms my heart because that is totally my genre of choice.” He also called Rayman Legends Retold’s announcement “awesome”, and said that Astro Bot was his “game of the year” when it came out.
“It is so great because these are the experiences that, you know, the reason that I play games is because I grew up with those experiences,” he continued.
Speaking further about why he loves 3D platforming games so much, Studdert described it as “the purest form of video game in my mind”, since it’s “about the fantasy of controlling a different character and the fun and joy that comes in the responsiveness and how you interact with the world. And it’s like you can layer other things on that, but to me, that’s like the source of what makes a fun video game is just exploring a space and having a unique character and a unique way of doing that.”
On the subject of more 3D platformers coming out in recent times, he said that it’s “the more the merrier. It’s phenomenal. I love seeing it.”
In the same interview, Studdert and Yan were also asked about the potential of Toys for Bob making a new entry in the Banjo-Kazooie franchise. Yan said that, while the studio is busy with Spyro for now, Banjo-Kazooie has always felt like a natural fit thanks to its blend of engaging gameplay and timeless characters.
“Those characters, you described as ‘nostalgic.’ I think that’s one way of looking at it. I think of them as timeless. They’re iconic. The types of games that we want to produce are ones that speak to a timeless place in the player as well, an ageless place, right? We call it the inner child. So I think those are wonderful games. We’re huge fans,” he said.
Studdert has also spoken about the upcoming Spyro: A Realm Beyond, which is currently being developed for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2, and is slated for release in Spring 2027. One of the title’s biggest features will be its flight mechanic, which Studdert has described as requiring “active decision-making” on the player’s part.
“We wanted to make sure that it is active. It is decision-making. It is pressing buttons. It is almost, you know, that platforming feel of evaluating a play space and figuring out how to continue,” he explained.
This also comes down to the fact that the version of Spyro in the upcoming title will be an older one that is “much more capable in flight,” according to Yan.
