Microsoft let Spyro’s developers go free to score an important publishing win instead

Toys for Bob’s split from Activision Blizzard restored the studio’s creative independence after years spent supporting major live-service franchises under shifting corporate priorities. Microsoft and Activision backed the move on the condition that Xbox publish the studio’s next project, resulting in Spyro: A Realm Beyond, a new multiplatform entry that gives Microsoft a strategic win without retaining full control.