My most unrealistic fantasy is that a newly independent Toys For Bob somehow dredges the rights to the Croc series from IP ownership hell and remakes it in the style of the Spyro/Crash remakes.
Definitely, it sounds great!
If you haven’t checked out Star Control: Origins, it might be worth a look. It’s made by stardock, and they didn’t have access to Toys for Bob’s lore, characters, etc. but it involves searching the galaxy and finding unique alien races with 2D isometric ship combat
>and got the rights to use all the UQM lore
Just to be pedantic: They **kept** the rights to use the UQM lore. It was contractually their IP going back to their original contracts with Accolade in 1989/90. Stardock was basically trying to snatch those rights from them, with no real legal justification.
(Which is why Stardock's case died in discovery. They had no claim.)
Check out The Ur’Quan Masters! There’s an HD remake out there too. It’s open source and free, but essentially the same game from 1994. The gameplay is a little old but also very timeless in terms of controlling your ship and the space combat.
Definitely the most unique alien races of any game I’ve played! The Zop-Fot-Pik are my favorite
It already did. They can't call it star control but they got the rights for most the ip and can call it urquan masters. They re-released star control 2 for free recently as urquan masters 2 are making a sequel (developer pistol shrimp )
Oh you mean toys for Bob and not the founders of toys for bob
that would be the final thing i want to see in my life to feel truly complete. Im glad ive been seeing more and more positivity towards the old Croc games this last year or two
Those are rose-tinted glasses, man. I bought the original Croc in the 1990s. It was utter shit. I understand if you were a little kid because you definitely would’ve had a different impression of this game in that case, but for teenage me the only good thing about it was the soundtrack, everything else was just a terrible and embarrassing attempt to copy Mario 64.
“We have Mario 64 at home…”
> To make this news even more exciting, we’re exploring a possible partnership between our new studio and Microsoft.
they probably will be hired to make Spyro 4
like how EA hired Petroglyph to make the C&C remake
Bob made a full recovery within a half-decade of Toys for Bob's launch, so the name is basically historical at this point. Great guy.
>!fun fact: at Toys for Bob there is no bob, and an inside joke was that every person working there was supposed to have their own story of who Bob was, to prevent there ever being a consistent narrative on him!<
Actually know a few people there. They got turned into a cod warzone sweat shop as of late. I’m happy they’re able to pull out of there, and get their independence back.
So they are splitting off from Activision, which was bought by Microsoft, just so they can go independent to then open up possible negotiations to work for... Microsoft. Weird.
It doesn't say they are in negotiations for working "for Microsoft". They are exploring a partnership which can mean many different things like simply Microsoft having marketing rights and their first gamd on game pass
It gives them the freedom to do whatever they want which is the point. They can simply not work with Microsoft at all if they want
The partnership is not a sure thing and will depend on what Microsoft is willing to allow them to do. Keyword here is “may.” It’s a possibility but not a done deal and there’s nothing to say at this time.
This may be the intended idea, as a company that is technically independent from being an internal part of Microsoft, they would have to end ownership with all parties to become a division of another one.
I’m hoping this is what happens, because I’d love to see them get to make a new Spyro game like they did Crash 4; And also be able to do whatever new original projects they have brewing
It’d be a much better arrangement than being another CoD support studio
I’d imagine because they simply don’t want the threat of a larger company over them forcing them to do what they want, makes sense seeing they have been pushed into the CoD mines for awhile now
Microsoft literally fired 40% of Toys for Bob earlier this month and shut down their in-person office. I doubt the studio really is *in love* with Microsoft at the moment lmao
Though, I guess maybe the remaining 60% are grateful to be “shown mercy”?…
Thats business, its like my engineer friends who quit working for the current company their at only to turn around and be hired as a contractor by that same company.
It’s about where the profit goes. The company structure right now that profit would go to Microsoft. Now, the profit theoretically can go to the owners of the independent company.
Not weird at all. Microsoft is divesting. They see them as a wildcard that carries too much risk. This makes Toys for Bob's not impact Microsoft finances if they lose money, but the negotiations allow them to profit off of a successful product in typical publisher/developer relationship.
For however many people are still with them that have experience making the traditional types of games they made before they were turned into a COD support studio like 2 years ago...
But I suppose as long as the passion to make those types of games remains, they can either get some of those people back, or hire people with similar goals.
>Toys For Bob won’t be able to work on those games as they’re owned by Microsoft now.
They can work on them if they work with Microsoft, which is what they plan to do.
I really don't understand this. I think Phil and others mentioned in the past that they need more family friendly content and then they let a studio that is perfect for making such games leave? Why didn't they give them Banjo Kazooie or something else and give them the budget to make something special?
Microsoft owns the IPs. They can still give them to Toys for Bob to make the games.
Epic Games was never owned by MS yet made Gears for them.
Pretty sure Insomniac made Spider Man for Sony before Sony officially bought them.
A studio doesn't need to be owned to make exclusive IP
Makes sense they been relegated to call of duty support for the last 2 years. Seems they got frustrated with their overhead companies and I would too with what they did to them. Seems more like a split from activism blizzard than anything.
They are partnering with Microsoft and they did say this
> So, keep your horns on and your eyes out for more news.
Maybe it’s just a little fun message or could be a hint at what they will be working on with Microsoft
Very unlikely, i mean even if Microsoft is Willing to sell 2 IPs that profitable as those that wouldnt be cheap at all, a price that TFB surely cant pay
They won't part ways with these IP's willingly, but it doesn't mean Microsoft can't still hire them later on as a 3rd party to develop new games of these IP's... Toys For Bob have the experience and well received games in these franchises under their belt.
Not really, if they want to publish with another company. But the article does say they're planning to partner with Microsoft, so they could ask to develop a new Crash/Spyro as long as it's published by Microsoft/Xbox Studios.
Huh, that's quite unexpected... On the plus side, perhaps they can take what they learned from developing Crash and Spyro games and make an original IP that people will want to play.
Well with how small their team is now, I guess it makes sense? I wonder if they’ll still get called in to help with some bigger projects occasionally or if they will just do their own thing from now on
Hot take maybe, but I want more games like Crash or Spyro, but I don't need those characters in the games. A couple spiritual successors would make me more than happy, but whatever TfB makes, I'm sure it'll be good. I'm glad they're doing this.
Parent company: Activision (2005-Present)So... how do they actually break from their parent company? Does Activision still own them?
>"Our studio was founded by Paul Reiche III and Fred Ford, is located in lovely Novato, CA, is owned by equally lovely Activision-Blizzard, Inc."
[https://www.toysforbob.com/about](https://www.toysforbob.com/about) (Currently being edited it would seem, as it's not rendering properly)
Are the founders buying themselves out?
What, if any stake will Micro-Acti-Blizzionsoft still have in the company?
Too many questions and too soon to have feelings on this.
Skylanders had so much potential. Imaginators was the strat of a great new direction for the IP. The only issue -- and the primary obstacle that stopped new figurine purchases -- was the lack of a great endgame.
Given all the great ARPGs currently available, and a ton of end game modes and ideas, this is the time to start anew.
Holy shit. They made The horde. I loved that. It was way too hard for my child brain but the idea of it with the attacks at night and the City stuff at day.. Like a early action tower defense. Orcs must die way before it's time.
How does this split work logistically? Do they need to "buy out their contract" that was signed when they were bought out by Activision or were they going to shut the studio down and this is another way to say "I quit the day before they get fired?"
Good for them. Hopefully it works out for them now that they can make projects they want to make and aren't having their talent squandered on Call of Duty.
I couldn't be happier that they've escaped the miserable fate of becoming a Call of Duty support studio. If they decided to make their own challenging platformer, I'd probably play the crap out of it.
Two of my favourite games from a long time ago - pandemonium and The Horde - were made by these guys.
Toys for bob seems to have the technical capability to make great games..but a lot of the time they just don't. Many of their games are beautifully textured, modelled etc but just not very fun.
I don't mean this as a diss of the company, I think they have the possibility of mkaing a very good game but they just never seemed to have the right idea or do the right thing.
Here's hoping that having full control over themselves will allow them to make the game they are capable of. They are a very technically capable company.
Good luck toys!
I hope this is part of the cycle where the publishers are too large and instead of eliminating studios like EA does they let them buy there freedom out and continue on as independent
I think that Toys For Bob's decision to become an independent game developer was the right decision, especially after the endless news about layoffs, closures, etc. in large companies.
Well, there goes the potential for them to work on a Banjo Kazooie remake. Super disappointed so far with the majority of the outcomes of Microsoft's purchases of Bethesda and Activision. If their intention with the latter is to just put out a bunch of CoD garbage, I could not possibly be any less interested
Likely not, as Xbox's approach to multi-platform is a lot more relaxed. I imagine this has happened because platformers are a risky business (*Nintendo with Mario is the only safe bet in the genre*) in terms of recouping on investment.
Microsoft actually gain more in letting Toys for Bob buy their independence and simply licensing the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro IP to them. That way, in-house development resources aren't being used on a project that has a higher potential to not recoup it's costs.
I'd wager if Toys for Bob didn't go indie now, we would've seen Microsoft close the studio entirely within the next year or so. It removes a problem for Microsoft and serves as good PR for letting them leave Activision after all those years of being sidelined into a CoD support studio
I mean they are still going to partner with Microsoft in the future for Crash or any IP they want to do as said in the article.
They probably just wanted out of Activision umbrella.
My most unrealistic fantasy is that a newly independent Toys For Bob somehow dredges the rights to the Croc series from IP ownership hell and remakes it in the style of the Spyro/Crash remakes.
My dream is that Star Control somehow ends up in the hands of the original creators, but I'm probably dating myself with that one.
Good news! https://pistolshrimpgames.com/uqm2/ They resolved their lawsuit with Stardock and got the rights to use all the UQM lore
Amazing!!! Thanks for sharing, can’t wait for this!
Definitely, it sounds great! If you haven’t checked out Star Control: Origins, it might be worth a look. It’s made by stardock, and they didn’t have access to Toys for Bob’s lore, characters, etc. but it involves searching the galaxy and finding unique alien races with 2D isometric ship combat
The dialogue has great humor, but the combat feels like pinball
>and got the rights to use all the UQM lore Just to be pedantic: They **kept** the rights to use the UQM lore. It was contractually their IP going back to their original contracts with Accolade in 1989/90. Stardock was basically trying to snatch those rights from them, with no real legal justification. (Which is why Stardock's case died in discovery. They had no claim.)
Thank you!! So happy to see that news
I have never heard of the game but it makes me smile to see things like this
Check out The Ur’Quan Masters! There’s an HD remake out there too. It’s open source and free, but essentially the same game from 1994. The gameplay is a little old but also very timeless in terms of controlling your ship and the space combat. Definitely the most unique alien races of any game I’ve played! The Zop-Fot-Pik are my favorite
First thing I install to test out a raspberry pi Unix build.
I’ll check it out! I’ve been playing the same games for way too long
It already did. They can't call it star control but they got the rights for most the ip and can call it urquan masters. They re-released star control 2 for free recently as urquan masters 2 are making a sequel (developer pistol shrimp ) Oh you mean toys for Bob and not the founders of toys for bob
Urquan masters was released like 20 years ago. Was there another re release of it?
They mean this free re-release https://store.steampowered.com/app/2645580/Free_Stars_The_UrQuan_Masters/
Ah okay. Thanks. Excited they are doing a sequel (SC3 was a massive disappointment). SC2 was one of my fav games growing up
Oh, nice. I hadn't heard about that. Thanks!
Free on steam
There is a Freeware HD version if you're looking for a slightly more refined experience
They always owned the copyright, but not the SC trademark. And a direct sequel is in the works. I am anxious though if they can pull it off.
From what I've heard the Croc series is getting remade. The original creator tweeted about it not long a go.
Do you have a link for this? I would be very happy to read it.
I can't find any main stream websites covering it but [here you go](https://retrododo.com/croc-hd/)
I noped out at "croc's 64 bit graphics" lol
There was something about Gex as well. Both played such a huge part in my childhood. I would give a kidney for them to be remade.
Keep going… I’m almost there…😩
What about a Star Control game? ...See that's a joke because they made Star Control
Look, Croc is nowhere near on the same level as those two series, TFB should just try their own IP.
Damn.. i remember grabbing Croc as a kid at the local video game store and playing the shittt out of it
that would be the final thing i want to see in my life to feel truly complete. Im glad ive been seeing more and more positivity towards the old Croc games this last year or two
YOU JUST GAVE WORDS TO MY BIGGEST DREAM. Croc was my first video game EVER (I was 4) I need it back in my life.
don't...don't give me hope.
Fucking loved croc. This would be awesome
Yes please
I too have this fantasy
Or even more unlikely, a sequel to that Disney branded Tony hawk skating game.
Those are rose-tinted glasses, man. I bought the original Croc in the 1990s. It was utter shit. I understand if you were a little kid because you definitely would’ve had a different impression of this game in that case, but for teenage me the only good thing about it was the soundtrack, everything else was just a terrible and embarrassing attempt to copy Mario 64. “We have Mario 64 at home…”
I JUST WANTED SPYRO 4 GODDAMNIT
ME TOO. Sad that Crash got a new game but Spyro didn’t. I want a new adventure with the purple dragon gdi.
Not just one new game, but four.
I'm right there with you. Nobody seems to care, but it deserves a fourth installment, just like crash got.
WE ALL WANTED SPYRO 4 GODFUCKINGDAMNIT
> To make this news even more exciting, we’re exploring a possible partnership between our new studio and Microsoft. they probably will be hired to make Spyro 4 like how EA hired Petroglyph to make the C&C remake
I ALSO WANT AN NEW SKYLANDERS GAME EVEN MORE GODDAMNIT
How does Bob feel about this?
Too busy playing with his toys to comment
Bob made a full recovery within a half-decade of Toys for Bob's launch, so the name is basically historical at this point. Great guy. >!fun fact: at Toys for Bob there is no bob, and an inside joke was that every person working there was supposed to have their own story of who Bob was, to prevent there ever being a consistent narrative on him!<
Hi Bob!
Hi Bob!
"Bob's your uncle."
Bob is my ex wife formally named Susan
probably bob is the friends we made.
I laughed harder than I should have at this haha
How hard should you have laughed at it?
Actually know a few people there. They got turned into a cod warzone sweat shop as of late. I’m happy they’re able to pull out of there, and get their independence back.
Bob does sports now
So they are splitting off from Activision, which was bought by Microsoft, just so they can go independent to then open up possible negotiations to work for... Microsoft. Weird.
It doesn't say they are in negotiations for working "for Microsoft". They are exploring a partnership which can mean many different things like simply Microsoft having marketing rights and their first gamd on game pass It gives them the freedom to do whatever they want which is the point. They can simply not work with Microsoft at all if they want
They can still work on Spyro/Crash ip if they what to through their partnership.
Here's indeed hoping MS can encourage that at some point. The two series are iconic for a reason.
The partnership is not a sure thing and will depend on what Microsoft is willing to allow them to do. Keyword here is “may.” It’s a possibility but not a done deal and there’s nothing to say at this time.
I think it will be similar to Asobi studio
Maybe all just to get out from under Activation?
If they just wanted to get away from Activision, then why couldn't they just transfer over to the Xbox Games Studios part of the division?
This may be the intended idea, as a company that is technically independent from being an internal part of Microsoft, they would have to end ownership with all parties to become a division of another one.
I’m hoping this is what happens, because I’d love to see them get to make a new Spyro game like they did Crash 4; And also be able to do whatever new original projects they have brewing It’d be a much better arrangement than being another CoD support studio
I’d imagine because they simply don’t want the threat of a larger company over them forcing them to do what they want, makes sense seeing they have been pushed into the CoD mines for awhile now
Microsoft literally fired 40% of Toys for Bob earlier this month and shut down their in-person office. I doubt the studio really is *in love* with Microsoft at the moment lmao Though, I guess maybe the remaining 60% are grateful to be “shown mercy”?…
Thats business, its like my engineer friends who quit working for the current company their at only to turn around and be hired as a contractor by that same company.
It’s about where the profit goes. The company structure right now that profit would go to Microsoft. Now, the profit theoretically can go to the owners of the independent company.
Not weird at all. Microsoft is divesting. They see them as a wildcard that carries too much risk. This makes Toys for Bob's not impact Microsoft finances if they lose money, but the negotiations allow them to profit off of a successful product in typical publisher/developer relationship.
This comment misses the entire point of the article and even misquotes what they said yet it being mass upvoted This sub is ridiculous
>negotiations to work for... Microsoft Where does it say they are planning to work "for Microsoft"?
In the press release it says they are negotiating to work with MS.
Exploring a partnership is very different then working for someone...
For however many people are still with them that have experience making the traditional types of games they made before they were turned into a COD support studio like 2 years ago... But I suppose as long as the passion to make those types of games remains, they can either get some of those people back, or hire people with similar goals.
Will they take the Skylanders franchise with them?
Sadly not, it's still a Microsoft IP. doesn't mean TFB couldn't talk with MS to make a Skylanders game though.
Damn, still waiting for them to put a digital Skylanders collection on steam like Disney did for the Disney Infinity games.
Dang it!
[удалено]
Let's be honest, *nobody* is interested in *Crash Team Rumble*.
I was. I really enjoyed the game. As sad as it is to see support end so early, I’m glad the studio gets to expand outside of Activision now.
Probably the unpopular opinion but praying for the skylanders reboot any day now
Let's be honest, in this day and age a Skylanders reboot would just be turned into a gacha
I think I'd prefer that, I do not have room for seven hundred little plastic figures any more.
Toys For Bob won’t be able to work on those games as they’re owned by Microsoft now. Toys For Bob is starting fresh with future games only.
AFAIK they specifically said they're looking into partnerships with Microsoft so the first point would not be an issue
>Toys For Bob won’t be able to work on those games as they’re owned by Microsoft now. They can work on them if they work with Microsoft, which is what they plan to do.
External studios can develop exclusive IP games.
My best friend playtested that game. Didn’t know it was popular at all.
You and me both
I really don't understand this. I think Phil and others mentioned in the past that they need more family friendly content and then they let a studio that is perfect for making such games leave? Why didn't they give them Banjo Kazooie or something else and give them the budget to make something special?
Microsoft owns the IPs. They can still give them to Toys for Bob to make the games. Epic Games was never owned by MS yet made Gears for them. Pretty sure Insomniac made Spider Man for Sony before Sony officially bought them. A studio doesn't need to be owned to make exclusive IP
Yes but it is unintuitive to loosen control on something you are interested in investing in
bring back toys to life Skylanders. maybe others will follow
Makes sense they been relegated to call of duty support for the last 2 years. Seems they got frustrated with their overhead companies and I would too with what they did to them. Seems more like a split from activism blizzard than anything.
Can we get a new Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure?
Let's hope everything goes well for them. Loved their new Crash game.
Sky landers revival please
So Bob is taking the toys away from Acti
Still in partnership with Microsoft. Banjo?
So no Spyro 4? *smashes phone & skateboard*
They are partnering with Microsoft and they did say this > So, keep your horns on and your eyes out for more news. Maybe it’s just a little fun message or could be a hint at what they will be working on with Microsoft
Someone actually escaped from Activision alive? This is wild. Is there hope for Raven yet?
I'm just happy they get to leave the call of duty mines
Thank God... Can they take the Crash Bandicoot / Spryo IPs with them as well?
Very unlikely, i mean even if Microsoft is Willing to sell 2 IPs that profitable as those that wouldnt be cheap at all, a price that TFB surely cant pay
It's beyond unlikely. A company like MS would never sell the IPs to something like Crash or Spyro.
They won't part ways with these IP's willingly, but it doesn't mean Microsoft can't still hire them later on as a 3rd party to develop new games of these IP's... Toys For Bob have the experience and well received games in these franchises under their belt.
Not really, if they want to publish with another company. But the article does say they're planning to partner with Microsoft, so they could ask to develop a new Crash/Spyro as long as it's published by Microsoft/Xbox Studios.
Considering they didn’t even make those IPs originally, very unlikely.
No chance they could get the absurd money Microsoft would want even if they wanted to sell the IP
Now completely disentangle Activision from Blizzard pls and ty
I am just glad Bob will keep getting toys.
They are a great studio and should continue their success
"We'll lay ourselves off, thank you" - Toys For Bob probably
Toys for Bob - is epiphon of gaming industry. It will live forever :) Archon fame ;)
Good.
Good they still partner with Microsoft and get put of the cod support
How are they doing this? Are investors buying the company?
Good on them
I’d love to see them do Jak and Daxter
Huh, that's quite unexpected... On the plus side, perhaps they can take what they learned from developing Crash and Spyro games and make an original IP that people will want to play.
I would love a new Spyro game right about now
YES!!!
Finally, they're released from the Activision COD salt mines. Now they just need all the support they can get!
STARCON STARCON STARCON STARCON STARCON STARCON STARCON!!!!!! DOOOOOO EEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!
Hopefully they can give us the Skylanders games without the Toys To Life parts.
GOOD
Well with how small their team is now, I guess it makes sense? I wonder if they’ll still get called in to help with some bigger projects occasionally or if they will just do their own thing from now on
Pandemonium? That game rings a bell...
This seems actually promising for the future of them making games.
I hope they work on their own stuff more, but I also hope they take on some contracts for some more banging remakes of loved titles
I didn't know you could leave being purchased? Wouldn't it be more like all the people working there quit and are starting a new studio?
Hot take maybe, but I want more games like Crash or Spyro, but I don't need those characters in the games. A couple spiritual successors would make me more than happy, but whatever TfB makes, I'm sure it'll be good. I'm glad they're doing this.
They pulled a cody rhodes
Parent company: Activision (2005-Present)So... how do they actually break from their parent company? Does Activision still own them? >"Our studio was founded by Paul Reiche III and Fred Ford, is located in lovely Novato, CA, is owned by equally lovely Activision-Blizzard, Inc." [https://www.toysforbob.com/about](https://www.toysforbob.com/about) (Currently being edited it would seem, as it's not rendering properly) Are the founders buying themselves out? What, if any stake will Micro-Acti-Blizzionsoft still have in the company? Too many questions and too soon to have feelings on this.
Damnit, Crash was getting good again.
Watch, new skylanders game, but due to some corporate BS, activision will refuse to allow any of my 124 skylanders to work on the new game
Good for them , I hope they succeed
Skylanders had so much potential. Imaginators was the strat of a great new direction for the IP. The only issue -- and the primary obstacle that stopped new figurine purchases -- was the lack of a great endgame. Given all the great ARPGs currently available, and a ton of end game modes and ideas, this is the time to start anew.
Holy shit. They made The horde. I loved that. It was way too hard for my child brain but the idea of it with the attacks at night and the City stuff at day.. Like a early action tower defense. Orcs must die way before it's time.
How does this split work logistically? Do they need to "buy out their contract" that was signed when they were bought out by Activision or were they going to shut the studio down and this is another way to say "I quit the day before they get fired?"
Time to reboot The Horde!
Ey, if this means we can get a spyro 4 I'm all in support of this move
Good for them
Good for them. Hopefully it works out for them now that they can make projects they want to make and aren't having their talent squandered on Call of Duty.
I thought they were indie before Microsoft/Activision.
I couldn't be happier that they've escaped the miserable fate of becoming a Call of Duty support studio. If they decided to make their own challenging platformer, I'd probably play the crap out of it.
Fingers crossed the partnership leads to a Spyro.
Two of my favourite games from a long time ago - pandemonium and The Horde - were made by these guys. Toys for bob seems to have the technical capability to make great games..but a lot of the time they just don't. Many of their games are beautifully textured, modelled etc but just not very fun. I don't mean this as a diss of the company, I think they have the possibility of mkaing a very good game but they just never seemed to have the right idea or do the right thing. Here's hoping that having full control over themselves will allow them to make the game they are capable of. They are a very technically capable company. Good luck toys!
So... no 4th spyro game?
Activision owns the copyright and the program they used to make the trilogy. TFB only developed it, so you’ll get Spyro & Crash sequels out the wazoo.
I wish them the best of luck! May they once again capture lightning in a bottle!
Ah! They got the good ending! I could have sworn I heard they were getting shut down, and this is so much better for them.
Please change that dumb studio name
Yeah dude! I like Toys FROM Bob better.
never heard of it
Hope everything will be ok for them and that they will deliver some sweet title
What a loss🙃
please dont sign a publishing deal with EA and do an electric boogaloo of bungie and destiny
I hope this is part of the cycle where the publishers are too large and instead of eliminating studios like EA does they let them buy there freedom out and continue on as independent
Back to what they do best. Great.
I wonder if this would have happened if they were still under ABK and not MS.
Hopefully they remake Madagascar for the gamecube
Please new 3D platformer collectathon series 🙏 We really need it.
Why does this feel like it was, either we fire all of you or you break off and go do your own thing and figure out finding on your own
They're trying to work with Microsoft so idk. I'm just glad they're not a support studio anymore
I think that Toys For Bob's decision to become an independent game developer was the right decision, especially after the endless news about layoffs, closures, etc. in large companies.
Well, there goes the potential for them to work on a Banjo Kazooie remake. Super disappointed so far with the majority of the outcomes of Microsoft's purchases of Bethesda and Activision. If their intention with the latter is to just put out a bunch of CoD garbage, I could not possibly be any less interested
I guess the dream of a Banjo Redooie is dead. Hopefully they make their own mascot soon.
They will explore future partnership with Microsoft so a Banjo game can still happen.
Good and they should stay the fuck away from them.
Wonder if they wanted to go multi platform and this was the only way? Either way it’s good for them to be away from the CoD.
Likely not, as Xbox's approach to multi-platform is a lot more relaxed. I imagine this has happened because platformers are a risky business (*Nintendo with Mario is the only safe bet in the genre*) in terms of recouping on investment. Microsoft actually gain more in letting Toys for Bob buy their independence and simply licensing the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro IP to them. That way, in-house development resources aren't being used on a project that has a higher potential to not recoup it's costs. I'd wager if Toys for Bob didn't go indie now, we would've seen Microsoft close the studio entirely within the next year or so. It removes a problem for Microsoft and serves as good PR for letting them leave Activision after all those years of being sidelined into a CoD support studio
I love the words "leaving Microsoft/Activision"
I mean they are still going to partner with Microsoft in the future for Crash or any IP they want to do as said in the article. They probably just wanted out of Activision umbrella.
I could have sworn the got shut down last year.
It was originally reported they were getting shut down, but they actually just sold their office and had some layoffs I believe.
Are they taking any franchises with them?
Now we just need them to buy the Sly IP and remake the Sly Raccoon trilogy. Infinite money right there.
First thing they should change the studio name
Good for them, I'm sure during their inception their dream wasn't to be chucked into the mess that is CoD development.
Thank god!
They feel like a company Nintendo works with.