Purchased by Activision in 2005, Toys for Bob announced today that they’re going independent, with hints of a possible partnership with Microsoft. 

In a message posted on Toys for Bob’s website, the studio confirmed that it is now an independent game studio, no longer under Activision, which is now owned by Microsoft. The news comes with insight into what this means for them, noting that the opportunity will allow them to return to their roots.

They go on to say that both Activision and Microsoft support the new direction, with hints of a potential partnership between Toys for Bob and Microsoft. 

“We’re thrilled to announce that Toys for Bob is spinning off as an independent game development 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.

To make this news even more exciting, we’re exploring a possible partnership between our new studio and Microsoft. And 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.

Our friends at Activision and Microsoft have been extremely supportive of our new direction and we’re confident that we will continue to work closely together as part of our future.  

So, keep your horns on and your eyes out for more news. Thank you to our community of players for always supporting us through our journey. We can’t wait to share updates on our new adventure as an indie studio!  

Talk to you soon!”

It may seem odd to see them split from Activision, which is also true with splitting from Microsoft, only to have them potentially work on a project with them, but being independent means that they’ll only answer to themselves. That, and they have full creative control over their projects, which may have been hindered when they were under Activision. 

That, and this, could potentially avoid potential layoffs from the studio. Seeing that the gaming industry is in such turmoil and with Microsoft recently having layoffs last month, many had feared for some of the smaller studios the company acquired with the Activision Blizzard King buyout. Of course, this doesn’t mean they won’t potentially have them, but it does instill some confidence now that they have more control over these situations. 

Either way, we’re looking forward to seeing what Toys for Bob comes up with now that they’re independent and free to do whatever they want.