The closure of Toys For Bob in Novato, California adds to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the renowned game developer, known for titles like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Skylanders.
The closure comes as part of the fallout from Microsoft Corp.'s MSFT acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which resulted in approximately 1,900 job layoffs.
See Also: 2024 Gaming Industry Shakeup - Over 2,700 Layoffs Revealed In Past 11 Days
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, 86 employees were laid off from Toys for Bob, along with 76 from Sledgehammer Games, another affected developer known for Call of Duty.
The layoffs, which were announced at the end of January, were part of Xbox's efforts to restructure Activision Blizzard following the acquisition.
Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra departed, and a survival game in development at Blizzard was canceled. The closures were discovered through official state filings.
The long-term impact on Toys for Bob remains uncertain amidst these changes in the industry. With various game publishers focusing on remote work and restructuring, the fate of the studio hangs in the balance.
Read Next: Gaming Industry Braces For A 'Year of Closures' In 2024, Report Says
Image courtesy: Activision via Steam.
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