Spyro developer Toys for Bob significantly affected by Microsoft layoffs
It appears that Microsoft Gaming's recent wave of layoffs has had a significant impact on Activision Blizzard studio Toys for Bob, causing its offices to close.
The details:
As reported by Eurogamer, the studio has laid off 86 employees, more than doubling the original estimate of 35, which equated to 30 to 40% of its workforce. The layoffs are part of Microsoft's recent decision to cut 1,900 jobs from its gaming division, which includes Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and ZeniMax.
The San Francisco Chronicle also reports that Toys for Bob's physical office in California is closing, according to recent state filings. A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice has also confirmed that 76 employees have been laid off from fellow Activision developer Sledgehammer Games.
Toys for Bob is best known for being the developer of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot 4, and providing additional work on Skylanders, Crash Bandicoot N-Sane Trilogy, and Call of Duty.
Other recent industry layoffs:
Devolver Digital studio Artificer is laying off nearly half of its workforce, with some leaving immediately and a small group remaining to complete its next project.
Visual Concepts, a 2K developer, is facing layoffs for the second time in six months.