With Saber Interactive and Gearbox Entertainment reportedly splitting from the Embracer Group, it’s surprising to hear developer Toys for Bob is separating from Activision. The Spyro Reignited Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time!, and Crash Team Rumble studio is going private and returning to its roots as a “small and nimble studio.”
“Over the years, we’ve inspired love, joy, and laughter for the inner child in all gamers. We pioneered new IP and hardware technologies in Skylanders. We raised the bar for best-in-class remasters in Spyro Reignited Trilogy. We’ve taken Crash Bandicoot to innovative, critically acclaimed new heights.
“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 of being a small and nimble studio.”
It’s exploring a “possible partnership” with Microsoft, which owns Activision, and working on a new title. “While we’re in the early days of developing our next new game and a ways away from making any announcements, our team is excited to develop new stories, new characters, and new gameplay experiences.”
It says that Activision and Microsoft were “extremely supportive” of its decision and “we’re confident that we will continue to work closely together as part of our future.”
The decision to go private is interesting, given that it reportedly laid off 86 employees from the studio last month. This was part of the 1,900 layoffs that Microsoft announced for Xbox Game Studios, Activision Blizzard and Bethesda. Toys for Bob’s office in Novato has reportedly shut down as it moves to a potentially more cost-effective location, possibly in preparation for this announcement. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements from the studio in the future.