Toys for Bob has discussed this before, but in an interview with GamesRadar, associate creative director Lou Studdert said the team is aiming for “a zen-like fluidity; we want chaining of moves and exploration – for you to really be interacting with the environment as this quadruped who is its own unique beast.” It’s all for the sake of enabling players to seamlessly transition between exploration on the ground and in the skies.

And it’s far from a gimmick. “Honing in on that feeling, that experience, has been our north star. We want to push the sense of wonder, adventure, and awe that this franchise uniquely delivers,” said Studdert.

But is there a danger of diverting too far from what made the original trilogy, which Toys for Bob remade to great success? Studdert points to the studio’s experience with Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. “What we like to do when we start working on a new project, especially if it is an established IP, is to really hone in on what emotions it brings out.”

Studio head Paul Yan added, “That tension is so real, right? I’m proud of the team. They are thinking that through very thoughtfully, and listening to the community as we do. Because you have these two extremes: If you stick too much to nostalgia, then you basically just rehash what’s been done before; and on the other extreme, if you innovate too much, then all of a sudden players don’t recognize the series anymore.”

Thankfully, those who enjoyed the Reignited Trilogy should feel right at home with A Realm Beyond. “We learned a lot during the development of Reignited,” continued Yan. “We’ve carried a lot of those lessons forward into A Realm Beyond – and obviously they are very different projects; we aren’t recreating classics this time. But we’ve built up a confidence in our instincts for what feels tonally right for this character, and I can’t wait for fans to see the direction we’re taking the series in.”

Spyro: A Realm Beyond launches in 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. For more details on how the flight mechanics work and how Toys for Bob is designing its worlds around the same, head here.

“Visually, we’ve made some subtle changes to suggest he’s grown since last we saw him – most notably, we’ve enhanced his wingspan so that he can be much more capable in flight,” explained Yan. “But this is absolutely the same Spyro you know and love, and that’s why we’re so thrilled to have Tom Kenny back to voice him! Tom’s performance delivers the plucky youthful courage that is such an important aspect of Spyro’s personality.”

As for just how capable Spyro will be in flight, Yan went on to reveal that, unlike previous games where he was only capable of gliding down from jumps or flying for short bursts, in Spyro: A Realm Beyond, Spyro is able to “take to the skies and own the airtime.”

“In Spyro: A Realm Beyond, Spyro will experience the freedom of true dragon flight,” said Yan. “He’s small, but mighty, so we had to do a lot of different experiments to explore how he could be both nimble and still be very physical when actively pushing his way through the air.”

Further in the interview, Yan also spoke about how the core design philosophy behind Spyro: A Realm Beyond revolves around giving players more options and freedom than any of the previous entries in the franchise have offered. The addition of full-fledged flight, he said, is a major addition to the series, and has led to the entire game being designed around the concept.

“For now, I can tell you that our biggest ambition in Spyro: A Realm Beyond is to give the player the freedom and fantasy of dragon flight – to be able to take the skies at a moment’s notice and make interesting and active decisions to flow through the spaces as you charge on the ground and now soar through the air,” he said. “This is such a significant addition to the game, and we’ve built a whole world around that promise.”

Spyro: A Realm Beyond was unveiled with a trailer over the weekend, giving us a look at the new title’s “strange and wonderous realm” where the dragon finds himself stranded. Along the way, the plucky hero will also have to deal with a new threat, referred to as Scavs, and to ultimately succeed, he will have to make new friends throughout his journey. Yan has confirmed that the title will feature an entirely new antagonist that will push the young dragon to “new emotional depths that will see Spyro grow as a hero”.

Spyro: A Realm Beyond is being developed for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2, and is slated for release in 2027.

A dark invading force that Toys for Bob is calling the Scavs is in his way, and it looks like the cheery dragon is going to have to work with some new friends in his effort to get them out of his way and save this new and visually resplendent world in the process. We’re quite curious to see what Spyro’s latest antagonists bring to the table, although that dark and sinister tower is all we get for now.

Thankfully, Spyro is as nimble as ever, and the flight mechanics are looking quite exciting as he boosts, weaves, and climbs his way through the new world. While further details about this one are scarce, we expect that to change over the coming months as it looks at a Spring 2027 release.

We quite enjoyed the announcement trailer, and it’s definitely worth a watch, even if it’s just to see Syro again as he soars through the skies looking as adorable as ever.