Layoffs have been reported at Toys for Bob, the developer behind Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time and the Spyro: Reignited Trilogy. They form part of the ongoing consolidation efforts necessitated by parent company Activision's acquisition by Microsoft, resulting in 1900 roles being made redundant. Some 86 workers have been let go, and the studio's office shuttered. Contrary to some earlier confusion, that's the physical address; Toys for Bob will remain active, and most remaining employees will now work remotely.
The San Francisco Chronicle broke the unhappy news (thanks, IGN), alerted by state filings. In California, employers must give a 60-day warning during mass layoffs. The Chronicle traced the listed addresses to determine the affected studio, using the same method last month to determine Call of Duty studio Sledgehammer Games, which lost some 76 employees as well.
As always, our best wishes to those caught up in these corporate machinations, and we hope the horrible state of the industry subsides soon. Sadly, if we had to make an informed prediction, things are likely to get worse before they get better.
[source sfchronicle.com, via ign.com]
Comments 19
Who could’ve predicted that industry consolidation only lead benefits for executives and no one else? Literally no one could’ve seen this coming… (in all seriousness it’s sucks that the people at one of the last creative beacons in Activision were treated like nothing. Idk how better or worse the transition to remote will be, but the job cuts aren’t a good sign)
@AsterZero this is also because multiple studios wanted to start a union.
Just like ign wants to do now.
Expect ign to go go bankrupt within 2 years.
Great acquisition by M$. So, to get this straight, the studio isn't gone!?
We just need M$ to introduce GamePass to all platforms and have them retain their 1-dollar subscriptions and then all gamers can have their hobby bankrolled by Spencer.
Off-topic:
Honestly, what the hell is happening with Haven? They bought a cinematic from another company to showcase Failgame$ and they have been coasting in irrelevance ever since.
I disagree. These layoffs are actually ok, because we don't have to hear about whether or not the deal will go through anymore. That's what internet people people told me.
Whilst Jez Corden,(of Windows Central,if I'm not mistaken),might still be cheer leading "All is well!", when the studio's been reduced to remote workers & no official Office space,it hardly suggests a studio expanding for future projects, does it?
Sadly the only "winners",from the buyout were Microsoft gaining control of some of the biggest 3rd party AAA IP's & Bobby Kotick & his ex-board getting golden parachutes to escape a storm of mismanagement of their own creation!🙄
Microsoft execs be doing work… taking it away from its new employees. Yeesh 😬
Who's cheering now?
This sucks. TFB is a great team.
Microsoft is totally gonna save TFB from Warzone hell guys! They'll be able to keep making Crash and Spyro games! They can even make Banjo now!
It started before MS took over anyway Vicarious Visions where mothballed into Blizzard after the scandles with them. They did the Remake of Crash Trilogy and I think Spyro as well but again still merged with Blizzard who also offloaded people.
But as stated the ones who benefit are the ones are the top and shareholders
Well to be fair how fitting is it that the merger happened.
Activision throwing great teams in prison to just work on call of duty and xbox the one company who seems to buy studios and then just run them into the ground.
Its very fitting.
I didn't like the merger as it can and will open the flood gates of nothing is off limits but I was hopeful that they would reshuffle the teams so they could be more creative and leave the teams who want to keep making call of duty on it.
Absolute scum for destroying the developer.
Made some bangers then put them on COD duty, what a joke.
I really want another crash game :/
Well then, I guess a new Spyro or Crash is less likely to happen now. Thanks Microsoft.
Fix your header please. Its misleading.
I am glad that i never finished bachelor on game or movie developments, it is because working for corporation is discussing, you make them make millions or billions but still a number, Don't forget about Kojima.
All his hard work Metal gear is not his property, Its Konami's property.
It's incredibly sad especially since there games sold so well 😢
Will those games disappear from online stores now?
It's a shame but needs must i suppose.
I imagine they will continue to slip down various studios at ABK where people arnt all that needed.
Seems to be the industry in general shedding slot of staff in the past 12 month's. I guess the cost to make games and alot of games don't really make the budgets back.
Money money 👀
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