The year 2023 was exceptional in terms of games, it's true! But, unfortunately, it was also in the bad sense of the word with regard to the numerous layoffs in the sector. 2024 sadly does not change the situation and since January, we have been witnessing a real massacre, and it is not the 1900 employees leaving behind the scenes of Microsoft and Activision Blizzard who will say the opposite.
Among them, there was even talk of those from Toys For Bob, a studio which, despite its popularity with the public by having resurrected Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, had been threatened with going out of business. But apparently, according to Jez Corden And Canadian Guy EhThat is not exactly correct.
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Toys For Bob offices are closing, but the studio is still open
According to journalist Jez Corden, Toys for Bob is indeed affected by the wave of layoffs, which, according to Microsoft, was already planned by Activision before its acquisition. However, the results would be serious than what we could read on social networks, although the studio would still be affected by a reduction in its workforce.
Thus, the studio would go from 86 to 50 employees, a change which will have the consequence of calling into question the cost of the premises where the development teams are located. Indeed, with offices located in a huge hangar with more than a third less staff, Toys For Bob has simply decided not to renew the rental lease and to work entirely remotely for a still unknown period.
This initiative will allow the studio to make significant savings in order to tackle various projects more peacefully. On this last point, the YouTuber Canadian Guy Eh, very aware of the news regarding the marsupial and the dragon, specifies, according to an anonymous source, that Microsoft is keen on Toys For Bob as well as their franchises and that There was no need to worry about that.
Spyro 4 coming soon?
This last information should be taken with a grain of salt, but with rumors concerning a fourth episode of Spyro which would be in preparation and given the success that Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time has had, it would not be surprising to see a continued one day.
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But if the studio is doing well, or at least appears to be doing well, why did 36 people have to leave? You should know that the teams were divided into different projects. The first, Crash Team Rumble, which still benefits from an indefinite follow-up, possibly a new secret project, Call of Duty and Overwatch 2.
We can assume that the employees in charge of these last two franchises were perhaps no longer necessary for Toys For Bob which decided to concentrate on its own licenses so to speak.
Still according to Canadian Guy Eh, Activision had recruited massively following the pandemic, but the games released did not make it possible to amortize the cost of this new additional workforce, leading to the rapid dismissal of hundreds of employees. employees.
Fingers crossed that developers can work as they wish and in good conditions! While waiting for the theoretical sequel to the little dragon, we can still play Spyro Reignited Trilogy on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and 5, PC and Nintendo Switch.