Toys for Bob

Toys for Bob is an independent video game development studio known for character-driven platformers, action-adventure games and the Skylanders franchise. Founded in 1989 by Paul Reiche III and Fred Ford, the studio develops console and PC games through full-cycle production, remakes, platform conversions and co-development partnerships. Its capabilities span game design, art, engineering, animation and audio.

The studio's early catalogue includes Star Control, Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters, The Horde, Pandemonium! and The Unholy War. Its publishing relationship with Crystal Dynamics shaped part of this early period, before an agreement with Activision brought licensed projects such as Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure and Madagascar.

Character worlds and platforming

Toys for Bob helped establish the toys-to-life category with Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure in 2011. Its work continued across several Skylanders releases, combining character-focused game development with physical toys and interactive play. This became a defining part of the studio's history and its experience creating games for family and all-ages audiences.

The studio later returned to established platforming franchises through Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. It also handled the Nintendo Switch conversion of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. These projects reflect its work both rebuilding existing games for contemporary platforms and developing new entries in established series.

Development partnerships and independence

Alongside its own lead-development projects, Toys for Bob contributed co-development and content support to Call of Duty titles, including Warzone, Modern Warfare II and Modern Warfare III. It released Crash Team Rumble in 2023, extending its portfolio into multiplayer development.

Activision acquired the studio in 2005. Following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard and restructuring in 2024, studio leadership negotiated a management spin-off, returning Toys for Bob to independent ownership in May 2024. The company now operates with a remote, distributed development model and has a publishing agreement with Xbox Game Studios for its next major project.