After a ‘corporate mandate’ demanded they help with Call of Duty, Toys for Bob studio head says it took ‘many mini miracles’ to buy their independence from Activision
Toys for Bob has successfully purchased its independence from Activision Blizzard, marking a significant turnaround for the acclaimed studio. The developer, known for the commercially successful Spyro: Reignited Trilogy (which sold over 11 million copies), has announced it is now working on an original Spyro game as a fully independent studio at the Xbox Games Showcase.
The journey to independence proved challenging. Despite Reignited’s strong performance, Activision reassigned Toys for Bob in 2021 to serve as a support studio for Call of Duty: Warzone and Overwatch 2. The studio head indicated this assignment was a poor fit, stating “We knew that it wasn’t the right fit” for the creative-focused developer.
The situation became more dire in 2024 when Microsoft, following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, conducted major layoffs affecting approximately 1,900 employees. Toys for Bob saw 86 of its staff members caught in the restructuring. However, the following month, the studio managed to negotiate its independence from the publisher.
According to the studio head, achieving this independence required considerable effort and luck, describing the process as taking “many mini miracles.” The studio’s return to independent status and original creative work represents a notable exception in an industry increasingly shaped by consolidation and restructuring. Toys for Bob’s ability to break free from Activision and return to developing original projects highlights both the challenges facing creative studios within large publishers and the possibilities available when circumstances align.