Longtime Activision developer Toys for Bob is spinning off as an independent game studio, breaking off from Activision’s new owners Microsoft… but curiously also then exploring a potential new partnership with Microsoft.
Crash Bandicoot Developer Toys for Bob Struck by Layoffs, Office Closure | Push Square
12.02.2024 - 23:51 / pushsquare.com / Toys For Bob / For Bob
Layoffs have been reported at Toys for Bob, the developer behind Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time and the Spyro: Reignited Trilogy. They form part of the ongoing consolidation efforts necessitated by parent company Activision's acquisition by Microsoft, resulting in 1900 roles being made redundant. Some 86 workers have been let go, and the studio's office shuttered. Contrary to some earlier confusion, that's the physical address; Toys for Bob will remain active, and most remaining employees will now work remotely.
The San Francisco Chronicle broke the unhappy news (thanks, IGN), alerted by state filings. In California, employers must give a 60-day warning during mass layoffs. The Chronicle traced the listed addresses to determine the affected studio, using the same method last month to determine Call of Duty studio Sledgehammer Games, which lost some 76 employees as well.
Related Articles
Bethesda employees also affected
As always, our best wishes to those caught up in these corporate machinations, and we hope the horrible state of the industry subsides soon. Sadly, if we had to make an informed prediction, things are likely to get worse before they get better.
Khayl Adam is the second best video game journalist Australia has ever produced, and his ambitions of world domination have (thus far) been curbed by the twin siren songs of strategy games and CRPGs. He has always felt an affinity for the noble dachshund, the best kind of dog.
Who could’ve predicted that industry consolidation only lead benefits for executives and no one else? Literally no one could’ve seen this coming… (in all seriousness it’s sucks that the people at one of the last creative beacons in Activision were treated like nothing. Idk how better or worse the transition to remote will be, but the job cuts aren’t a good sign)
One of the good studios left and how things are going. The merger has already turned things into custard.
@AsterZero this is also because multiple studios wanted to start a union.
Just like ign wants to do now.
Expect ign to go go bankrupt within 2 years.
Great acquisition by M$. So, to get this straight, the studio isn't gone!?
We just need M$ to introduce GamePass to all platforms and have them retain their 1-dollar subscriptions and then all gamers can have their hobby bankrolled by Spencer.
Off-topic:
Honestly, what the hell is happening with Haven? They bought a cinematic from another company to showcase Failgame$ and they have been coasting in irrelevance ever since.
I disagree. These layoffs are actually ok, because we don't have to hear about whether or not the deal will go through anymore. That's what internet people people told me.
Whilst Jez Corden,(of Windows Central,if I'm not mistaken),might still
The website gametalkz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Authors
Popular Topics
rockpapershotgun.com
01.03.2024 / 11:23
Crash Bandicoot 4 studio Toys For Bob split from Activision and Microsoft to go independent
As the video games industry violently contracts to ensure shareholder satisfaction at the cost of making thousands upon thousands of people unemployed, Skylanders studio Toys For Bob have announced they're splitting from Activision Blizzard and Microsoft to go independent. Good for them, but maybe too late for some. Earlier this month, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that it seemed Activision Blizzard were closing Toys For Bob's California headquarters and laying off 86 people. Still, the new independent Toys For Bob say they're working on something new and "exploring a possible partnership" with Microsoft.
wccftech.com
01.03.2024 / 10:34
Toys for Bob Goes Indie But Will Still Likely Partner with Microsoft
Out of the blue, Novato-based game developer Toys for Bob announced it is going indie, splitting from Activision and Microsoft. The brief announcement message says this is a move to 'return to roots' and be a nimble studio once again.
pcgamesinsider.biz
01.03.2024 / 10:21
Toys For Bob breaks from Microsoft and Activision Blizzard
Current Crash and Spyro developer Toys For Bob is spinning itself out of Activision Blizzard.
gamingbolt.com
01.03.2024 / 08:11
Toys for Bob is Separating from Activision
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 Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy studio is going private and returning to its roots as a “small and nimble studio.”
eurogamer.net
01.03.2024 / 00:03
Activision's Skylanders, Crash Bandicoot studio Toys for Bob going independent
Toys for Bob — the Activision Blizzard studio behind the likes of Skylanders, Crash Bandicoot 4, and the Spyro remasters — has announced it's parting ways with Activision to become an independent company once more. It also says it's «exploring a possible partnership» with Microsoft as development on its new game gets underway.
gamesindustry.biz
29.02.2024 / 23:05
Toys For Bob splitting from Activision Blizzard
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox
videogameschronicle.com
29.02.2024 / 22:43
Crash Team Rumble will be getting no more content updates after next week
Crash Team Rumble support is winding down, as next week’s content update will be its last.
gameranx.com
29.02.2024 / 21:47
Toys For Bob To Go Independent From Activision Blizzard
It hasn’t been a good year for video game developers and publishers, and we’re just now at the end of February! There have been over 7000 job layoffs in the first two months, with 5400+ coming in January, and just this past week, another 1600 have been added to that! This is affecting companies in various ways, and they have to adapt to their new situations if they can. An excellent example of this is Toys For Bob, a small company that Activision Blizzard had bought and recently saw some layoffs. Plus, they decided to forgo having a “formal workplace” and become an entirely work-at-home company.
ign.com
29.02.2024 / 21:21
Crash 4 Developer Toys for Bob Is Officially Going Indie
Amid mass layoffs, studio closures, and general industry uncertainty, today began with a handful of studios and companies reclaiming control of their own destinies. We learned this morning that Saber Interactive and Gearbox are reportedly breaking free of Embracer Group. And now, it looks like Crash Bandicoot developer Toys for Bob has sprung free of Activision and Microsoft.
destructoid.com
29.02.2024 / 21:15
Toys for Bob separating from Activision Blizzard, going independent
On the company’s website, Toys for Bob, the developer behind Skylanders and Crash Bandicoot 4, has announced that it’s diverging from Activision Blizzard to become independent.
gamerant.com
29.02.2024 / 20:53
Crash Bandicoot, Spyro Dev is Leaving Activision
Toys for Bob, the developer behind 2020's Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time and 2018's Spyro Reignited Trilogy, has announced that it's leaving Activision and Microsoft and becoming an independent studio. However, Toys for Bob briefly detailed its plans for the future, which might involve a partnership with Activision Blizzard's parent company.