Toys for Bob, the game developer behind Skylanders and the latest titles Crash Bandicoot and Sypro, has announced plans to partner with Xbox to release one other unannounced title. Under the new agreement, Xbox will release the title as a standalone title.
The studio originally joined Activision in 2005 after publishing several titles in collaboration with Crystal Dynamics. Its Skylanders games (and their accompanying physical toys) became a multi-billion dollar franchise before being discontinued.
Toys for Bob joined Microsoft along with the remainder of Activision Blizzard in October 2023. At the time of the acquisition announcement, then-CEO of Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick, told GamesBeat that Microsoft’s supply chain and manufacturing resources would go a great distance in revitalizing the toy market for the Life franchise Skylanders. Toys for Bob, nonetheless, will have to do this independently of Activision. In February 2024, Microsoft spun off the developer into an independent studio.
The announcement confirms rumors of a deal between Toys for Bob and Xbox to release a new game once the studio becomes independent earlier this 12 months. In contrast to supporting this developer, Microsoft shut down several high-profile independent studios earlier this month. These include Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Roundhouse Studios and Alpha Dog Games.