Toys for Bob Says Call of Duty Work Pushed It Back Toward Spyro

Toys for Bob says its years supporting Call of Duty and other major Activision projects taught the studio an important lesson: it wanted to return to the kind of colorful, joyful games that made its name. That shift has now led to Spyro: A Realm Beyond, the first new Spyro game in nearly two decades.

The studio was moved onto Call of Duty Warzone support in 2021, a decision that disappointed many fans who knew Toys for Bob from Crash Bandicoot and Spyro. The team later regained independence and reached a deal with Microsoft to work on one of its IPs. That project was finally revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 as Spyro: A Realm Beyond.

Studio head Paul Yan said Toys for Bob is proud of the work it did on larger projects such as Warzone, Overwatch 2, and Modern Warfare. But he also made clear that those games were not where the studio’s heart was. The team wanted to get back to bright characters, handcrafted worlds, all ages adventure, and a more optimistic tone.

Toys for Bob wanted creative control again

Yan said the studio proposed a major change to Activision and Xbox leadership. Toys for Bob wanted to buy back its independence, regain creative control, and operate as a separate company while preserving the team it had built over the years.

That plan was risky, but it gave the studio a path out of large franchise support work and back into the kind of games it wanted to make. According to Yan, both Activision and Microsoft supported the move.

The comments show how difficult life can be for smaller creative teams inside large publishers. Support work on blockbuster franchises can be valuable and technically demanding, but it can also pull a studio away from the identity that built its audience.

Spyro: A Realm Beyond marks a return to the studio’s roots

Spyro: A Realm Beyond is the first brand new Spyro entry since The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon in 2008. That alone makes it a major return for longtime fans.

The new game is planned for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch 2 in Spring 2027. It will also introduce full dragon flight for Spyro, a feature that could significantly change how exploration works.

That is an important step because Spyro has always been tied to movement, verticality, collecting, and playful world design. Giving the character proper flight could help the series feel modern without abandoning its core identity.

For Toys for Bob, the project is also personal. The studio helped revive Spyro through the Reignited Trilogy, and A Realm Beyond gives it the chance to move past remaster work and build a new chapter.

Call of Duty support work was not wasted

Yan did not dismiss the studio’s time on Call of Duty. He said the team learned a lot during that period and remained proud of its contributions. That experience may still help Toys for Bob as it builds a larger modern Spyro game.

Working on massive franchises can improve a studio’s production discipline, technical pipeline, multiplayer knowledge, and ability to collaborate across large teams. Even if Toys for Bob wanted to move away from that kind of work, the skills gained during those years may still benefit A Realm Beyond.

The difference is purpose. Instead of using those skills to support someone else’s blockbuster machine, the studio now gets to apply them to a world and tone that fits its own creative strengths.

A Realm Beyond could define the studio’s next chapter

Spyro: A Realm Beyond arrives at a meaningful moment for Toys for Bob. The studio is independent again, but it is still working with Microsoft on a major IP. That gives it both freedom and visibility.

The challenge will be delivering a game that satisfies longtime Spyro fans while proving the series can still matter in 2027. Platformers have changed since Spyro’s early years, and modern players may expect smoother controls, bigger worlds, stronger progression, and more varied traversal.

Full flight could be the key feature that helps A Realm Beyond stand apart. If Toys for Bob builds the world around that ability, the game could feel like a true evolution rather than a simple nostalgia play.

The broader story is also clear. Toys for Bob did not come away from its Call of Duty years wanting to chase realism, scale, or military spectacle. It came away wanting to be Toys for Bob again.

Spyro: A Realm Beyond is the result of that choice. It gives the studio a chance to reconnect with its audience, revive a beloved character, and show that colorful platforming adventures still have a place in the modern console market.