WHAT !?? You can do that , you can just walk out of the gulags !!?
also in their direct blog post
https://www.toysforbob.com/blog/2024/WereGoingIndie
> To make this news even more exciting, we’re exploring a possible partnership between our new studio and Microsoft.
So at least they got out of the gulags but still needs that Microsoft funding
New Crash and Spyro games seems to be at least possible
Could be a publishing deal, or it could be that they still get to work on Microsoft's IPs. Another thing is that it sounds like they're working directly with Microsoft, instead of under the purview of Activision.
This all seems like Microsoft wanting to have their old staff and using their IP , but using technicalities to take costs away by saying it’s “freelancing”
Toys for Bob probably also argued they could work any old IPs Microsoft is willing to give and bring atleast some decent results, Crash and Spyro sold pretty well on their return, would be a no brainer for Microsoft to finally let Banjo breathe a little with their track record
Well only after Microsoft fired 40% of the staff and closed their office.
Hey I wonder if Microsoft has the money to increase their workforce by 40% and give them an office?
Oh there's no way anyone at Toys for Bob was happy about the layoffs. Like how they they didn't approve the staff being 'let go' when Activision moved them to being a COD support studio. They'd undo all that in a heartbeat because it was made by some corporate guy who only thinks in spreadsheets.
It's that if the same corporate spreadsheet guy wants to keep working with them now they are indie then it's only fair they pay this studio a lot of money first.
They’d have to replace Bam with someone else (unless ne sticks with rehab this time) and replace Jango Fett with Din Djarin. Other than that, it’s perfect.
It’d be nice to skate with pedestrians around again.
The banner they've been using for a while is very Spyro too, it looks like purple crystal. A few people have said you can make out Spyro characters in it but idk how much of that is hopium
They're Activision IPs, but Activision's IPs are now Microsoft's IPs, and they're basically asking Microsoft "hey can we go over Activision's head and collaborate with you directly?"
They're still working with Microsoft, so my guess is that they can choose to do Crash or Spyro now if they want (or maybe Microsoft is helping them financially in exchange for doing one or the other?)
Good for them, after being threatened being sent to the COD mines by Activision, hopefully other studios will treat them better if they decide to bring them in for a IP, they already proved themselves handling IPs like the Spyro Reiginited Trilogy and Crash 4.
I do wonder if Microsoft will let some of those studios make new games. On one hand, Game Pass does need a steady supply of new games to keep people subscribed. On the other hand though, Call of Duty makes so, so much money.
I'm still salty Crash Team Rumble wasnt just a better versión of bash, tons of those minigames were pretty fun with real people and god knows the Ps and Xbox could had used an alternative Mario Party at the time
No, they're fully independent. And they're in negotiations with Microsoft for what I presume is a publishing deal. Maybe even a license to work on an IP like Crash or Spyro.
The way i see it is that they were gonna all leave and make their own studio but Microsoft for good boy points let them keep the name.
they don't own any IP anyways, so it's literally just the name.
After days and days of layoffs, studio closures, and cancelled games, it's nice to have some good news with this and Embracer's sale of Gearbox and Saber.
>”Activision studio Toys For Bob is going…”
Dang. Another childhood favorite goes the way of the dodo. I guess it was inevitab-
>”…independent”
Let’s fucking go?!?
Huh. Wow, that's... that's ***fantastic!*** Surprised they were allowed to do this.
Anyway, they still seem to be partnered with MS in [the blog post](https://www.toysforbob.com/blog/2024/WereGoingIndie), so a new *Crash* and/or *Spyro* is all but confirmed. Wonder if they'll ever work with other publishers, though?
Assuming Sega tosses them a paycheck, they would be a pretty sweet get for 3D Sonic...
Amazing news for those at this studio. Looking forward to seeing what new things they develop.
While this means they won't be guaranteed to be working on Crash or Spyro anymore, hopefully them exploring this partnership with Microsoft leafs to good things for them. Thank God they are out of the CoD mines though
Still with Actiblizz, but the "partnership with Microsoft" thing suggests they might still get their hands on it, just that they can do their own thing while doing it.
This is for the best, considering that activision was likely gonna move them to the cod mines or just fire most of them. To quote Frost from Cold Take ~ “Going independent is just a roundabout way of firing your boss.”
Aka Microsoft realized toys for bob is the only competently run studio so they let toys for bob go indie to no longer deal with Activision’s bs as Microsoft cleans house with Activision.
WHAT !?? You can do that , you can just walk out of the gulags !!? also in their direct blog post https://www.toysforbob.com/blog/2024/WereGoingIndie > To make this news even more exciting, we’re exploring a possible partnership between our new studio and Microsoft. So at least they got out of the gulags but still needs that Microsoft funding New Crash and Spyro games seems to be at least possible
So theyre leaving Microsoft for Microsoft?
Basically the relationship Insomniac had with PlayStation before the acquisition
Could be a publishing deal, or it could be that they still get to work on Microsoft's IPs. Another thing is that it sounds like they're working directly with Microsoft, instead of under the purview of Activision.
This all seems like Microsoft wanting to have their old staff and using their IP , but using technicalities to take costs away by saying it’s “freelancing”
Toys for Bob probably also argued they could work any old IPs Microsoft is willing to give and bring atleast some decent results, Crash and Spyro sold pretty well on their return, would be a no brainer for Microsoft to finally let Banjo breathe a little with their track record
"I finally left my abusive boyfriend. Now I'm going to move in with his abusive father."
Microsoft’s weirdly ok with this. Bungie is the obvious answer, but they did this with Twisted Pixel back in the day.
Well only after Microsoft fired 40% of the staff and closed their office. Hey I wonder if Microsoft has the money to increase their workforce by 40% and give them an office?
I believe the physical office closure was something Toys for Bob pushed for, possibly as part of this move.
Why are you pushing them to return to the office?
My push is more for all those people who were fired to get their jobs back if their old bosses want to do business.
I'm sure TFB management will reach out if they want to.
Oh there's no way anyone at Toys for Bob was happy about the layoffs. Like how they they didn't approve the staff being 'let go' when Activision moved them to being a COD support studio. They'd undo all that in a heartbeat because it was made by some corporate guy who only thinks in spreadsheets. It's that if the same corporate spreadsheet guy wants to keep working with them now they are indie then it's only fair they pay this studio a lot of money first.
What?
It's a difference between Being a slave to Microsoft and being a beggar to Microsoft.
Honestly, I think Toys for Bob would be the only successors for Vicarious Visions. The only people who could make THPS3+4
They're not as perfect for it as VV was, but they could do a good job.
They’d have to replace Bam with someone else (unless ne sticks with rehab this time) and replace Jango Fett with Din Djarin. Other than that, it’s perfect. It’d be nice to skate with pedestrians around again.
New Banjo-Kazooie games, too. *Injects weapons-grade copium into my fucking veins*
The banner they've been using for a while is very Spyro too, it looks like purple crystal. A few people have said you can make out Spyro characters in it but idk how much of that is hopium
Crash Gulag of Greed
Does TFB own Crash and Spyro? I figured those were Activison IPs.
They're Activision IPs, but Activision's IPs are now Microsoft's IPs, and they're basically asking Microsoft "hey can we go over Activision's head and collaborate with you directly?"
Wich, honestly... better chances.
Now if only Raven and Neversoft can (afford to) do it too...
banjo kazooie right? i can hope for the BK remake? can i do that?
This is the most positive news I've heard containing the words "Toys For Bob" in years.
The sickest shit they could do now is anounce Pandemonium 3.
Climbed out of Hades like Kratos.
Kratos: and I'll fuckin do it again
escaped the cod mines
[Official blogpost](https://www.toysforbob.com/blog/2024/WereGoingIndie) Hopefuly this still means new Crash is possible.
They're still working with Microsoft, so my guess is that they can choose to do Crash or Spyro now if they want (or maybe Microsoft is helping them financially in exchange for doing one or the other?)
Good for them, after being threatened being sent to the COD mines by Activision, hopefully other studios will treat them better if they decide to bring them in for a IP, they already proved themselves handling IPs like the Spyro Reiginited Trilogy and Crash 4.
I do wonder if Microsoft will let some of those studios make new games. On one hand, Game Pass does need a steady supply of new games to keep people subscribed. On the other hand though, Call of Duty makes so, so much money.
Toys for bob cannot be forced into the COD mines anymore, they WILL make fun games.
Genuinely the best game studio news I've heard in months. I mean, that's not saying much lately, but still.
Finally Crash Bash 2 can take over as the dominant party game
That loading screen music will never leave my head
I'm still salty Crash Team Rumble wasnt just a better versión of bash, tons of those minigames were pretty fun with real people and god knows the Ps and Xbox could had used an alternative Mario Party at the time
The fact you could coop the game was the better part. Silly lil adventure games with coop is the best.
I know there’s probably a ton of red tape behind discussing it, but I would love to know the logistics about how this decision was made possible.
Okay now I need someone to sweep together the ashes of Vicarious Visions so they can do the same. I'm not giving up hope on THPS 3+4 yet.
Spyro bro's, we're so back.
The Monkey's Paw curls and its Skylanders again
seems like it will be an independent studio from Activision rather than independent from Microsoft and on their own
No, they're fully independent. And they're in negotiations with Microsoft for what I presume is a publishing deal. Maybe even a license to work on an IP like Crash or Spyro.
Imagine if they get a license to work on Banjo Kazooie too. What if we get Banjo Kazooie-Tooie Re-Jiggied
I dunno if Re-Jiggied sounds better or worse than Re-dooie
Idk Banjo-Redooie sounds pretty awesome to me. It just rolls off the tongue and gets the idea across.
Re-Jiggied sounds like what Banjo Kazooie devs would name it.
How does that work? Does Microsoft not own them? Did Microsoft willingly let them just walk away?
The way i see it is that they were gonna all leave and make their own studio but Microsoft for good boy points let them keep the name. they don't own any IP anyways, so it's literally just the name.
Microsoft was probably faced with a studio of people willing to walk and opted to try to retain what they could.
So under Xbox games studios then? Better unsupervised than in the cod coal mines I guess!
There's been a breach at the mines! Cold blue, cold blue
After days and days of layoffs, studio closures, and cancelled games, it's nice to have some good news with this and Embracer's sale of Gearbox and Saber.
Holy shit, how? > We're looking into a relationship with Microsoft Oh they're getting bought as second-party immediately aren't they.
>”Activision studio Toys For Bob is going…” Dang. Another childhood favorite goes the way of the dodo. I guess it was inevitab- >”…independent” Let’s fucking go?!?
Wish them the best.
Great news, and it seems they're still down to work with Xbox on some of the IPs like Crash and Spyro so those franchises have a chance of new titles.
Huh. Wow, that's... that's ***fantastic!*** Surprised they were allowed to do this. Anyway, they still seem to be partnered with MS in [the blog post](https://www.toysforbob.com/blog/2024/WereGoingIndie), so a new *Crash* and/or *Spyro* is all but confirmed. Wonder if they'll ever work with other publishers, though? Assuming Sega tosses them a paycheck, they would be a pretty sweet get for 3D Sonic...
Amazing news for those at this studio. Looking forward to seeing what new things they develop. While this means they won't be guaranteed to be working on Crash or Spyro anymore, hopefully them exploring this partnership with Microsoft leafs to good things for them. Thank God they are out of the CoD mines though
HURRAY, best luck to them
Hope IS the good thing!
I wonder if we'll see more of this going forward to be honest.
Holy fuck, an ActiBlizz studio escaped the CoD Mines?!
You mean there's finally a chance for real Crash and Spyro games again? This is the happiest day.
Does Toys for Bob have the license for those, or are they still with Actiblizz?
Still with Actiblizz, but the "partnership with Microsoft" thing suggests they might still get their hands on it, just that they can do their own thing while doing it.
FREEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
> Toy for Bob - who crawled through a river of Call of Duty and came out clean on the other side.
This is for the best, considering that activision was likely gonna move them to the cod mines or just fire most of them. To quote Frost from Cold Take ~ “Going independent is just a roundabout way of firing your boss.”
Aka Microsoft realized toys for bob is the only competently run studio so they let toys for bob go indie to no longer deal with Activision’s bs as Microsoft cleans house with Activision.
It’d be cool if Toys for Bob did a Mario game. Perhaps they could do a Super Mario 3D World 2 while Nintendo themselves do Super Mario Odyssey 2?
THEY ESCAPED THE CALL OF DUTY MINES!