Describe: Activision mismanaged Toys for Bob after modest Shatter Bandicoot 4 gross sales
Image through Toys for Bob/Activision Blizzard.
A recent video from Did You Know Gaming’s Liam Robertson particulars how Shatter and Spyro developer Toys for Bob has been widely mismanaged by ex-guardian company Activision Blizzard.
Noteworthy of the studio’s woes stem from Activision’s reaction to specific video games underperforming. After Shatter 4: It be About Time had initial extinct gross sales when compared to 2017’s Shatter N. Sane Trilogy, the publisher modified its handling of TfB projects.
Shatter 4 went on to promote a reported 5 million copies, however Activision Blizzard had pivoted to stay-provider titles earlier than then. Toys for Bob used to be made a enhance studio for Name of Accountability in 2021, and moreover tasked with supporting Blizzard with Overwatch 2.
The studio at final made a stay-provider Shatter game of its own with 2023’s Shatter Crew Rumble, which itself had lower than a full 365 days of post-originate enhance earlier than that ended.
Toys for Bob is a sufferer of the industry’s greatest enemy
After wrapping Shatter 4, a little Toys for Bob group started coming up with concepts for future entries. One idea explored for Shatter 5, which used to be very early in manufacturing, incorporated a group up between Shatter and Spyro the Dragon.
The venture used to be later killed, and or not it is further alleged this used to be one of many single-participant titles that had been shot down by Activision Blizzard. One other would-be title used to be a brand recent Tony Hawk game after that series had been remastered.
Alongside the perception into Shatter 5, Robertson’s video provides a detailed stumble on at how the industry’s recent ongoing retraction is driven in share by govt incompetence. Loads of ex-TfB workers claimed Activision Blizzard effectively did not know what to achieve with the studio, and Shatter Crew Rumble particularly.
Toys for Bob has since long past self sufficient and teamed with Microsoft for its first game post-Activision breakup. It be right now unclear what acknowledged venture would maybe be, however the studio is reportedly having a stumble on to originate the video games or not it is most efficient at going forward.
Referring to the Author
Contributing Editor, GameDeveloper.com
A Kansas Metropolis, MO native, Justin Carter has written for quite loads of internet sites collectively with IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. As well to Game Developer, his writing could well presumably fair moreover be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Manufacture not demand him about how necessary gum he’s had, since the reply would maybe be larger than he’s bright to admit.