Toys for Bob, the developer of Crash Bandicoot 4 and Crash Team Rumble, is officially independent of Activision and Microsoft. Despite the split, the studio hasn’t ruled out working with those companies in the future.

Crash Bandicoot developer Toys for Bob splits from Activision after 19 years

Toys for Bob’s separation from Activision goes into effect today, February 29. The divorce also appears to be an amicable one, according to the studio’s official statement. “Our friends at Activision and Microsoft have been extremely supportive of our new direction, and we’re confident that we will continue to work closely together as part of our future,” Toys for Bob wrote. The company, which closed its physical office earlier this month, also says it is exploring a possible partnership with Microsoft, which acquired Crash Bandicoot publisher Activision last year.

If this partnership works out, it could mean that Toys for Bob isn’t done with the Crash Bandicoot series. Unfortunately, the company’s statement didn’t detail its future plans, but it promises to give more updates soon.

Founded by Paul Reiche and Fred Ford in 1989, Toys for Bob released its first game, Star Control, in 1990. Decades later, it developed the Skylanders series, released from 2011 to 2016. It later released the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Spyro Reignited Trilogy before launching Crash Bandicoot 4 in 2020. Its last game as the primary developer was 2023’s Crash Team Rumble, though it also assisted on Modern Warfare III.

While Toys for Bob’s relationship with Activision lasted almost 20 years, the studio expressed excitement for its new opportunities. “With the same enthusiasm and passion,” it says, “we believe that now is the time to take the studio and our future games to the next level. This opportunity allows us to return to our roots of being a small and nimble studio.”

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There’s a new PSN Flash Sale, but it’s got a fairly small (and seemingly random?) selection of titles with discounts. This weekend’s Flash Sale only has 11 games, and that’s even if you count the special deluxe editions. There are actually only seven unique games on sale, which goes back up to 11 again if you consider both the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro trilogies as packages of three games each. No matter how you want to spin it, this PSN Flash Sale is one of the smallest we’ve ever seen, though it does have some pretty good titles if you’re in the market for something really specific.

Here’s everything that’s on sale in this weekend’s PSN Flash Sale:

PSN Flash Sale – March 13-16, 2020

• Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy – $19.99 – 50% Discount
• Far Cry New Dawn – $15.99 – 60% Discount
• Just Cause 4: Complete Edition – $20.99 – 70% Discount
• Just Cause 4: Gold Edition – $17.99 – 70% Discount
• Just Cause 4: Reloaded – $11.99 – 70% Discount
• NBA 2K20 – $19.79 – 67% Discount
• NBA 2K20 Digital Deluxe – $26.39 – 67% Discount
• Need for Speed Heat – $29.99 – 50% Discount
• Need for Speed Heat Deluxe Edition – $34.99 – 50% Discount
• Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville – $19.99 – 50% Discount
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy – $19.99 – 50% Discount

The games come from a variety of publishers (Activision, EA, Ubisoft, and Square Enix) and there doesn’t seem to be any kind of unifying theme, rhyme, or reason behind why these particular games made the cut to get cuts. All of these sale prices end on March 16, 2020, so if you’ve got an interest in any of them, grab them now before they hit full price again. (I recommend Battle for Neighborville if you enjoyed the old Garden Warfare games!)

Of course, there are still other PlayStation Store sales running right now as well. There’s the big PS Plus Double Discounts sale which gives bigger discounts to Plus subscribers. And then there’s the Games Under $15 sale, which—you guessed it—discounts games to under $15.

[Source: PS Store]

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Still don’t own the Crash Bandicoot remasters? Perhaps all of that waiting will pay off. According to an Amazon listing, Activision has another Crash bundle in the works. The bundle in question will feature Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled as a complete package for the price of $59.99. It’s supposedly launching next month on both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Strangely, the Xbox One release is listed for December 2, 2019, while the PS4 version has a date of December 31st attached.

When the release date confusion will receive clarification currently remain to be seen. At least the Amazon listing features the bundle’s box art. Check it out in the image below:

This seems like a pretty good deal for $60, given that consumers will have access to four remade classic Crash Bandicoot titles. Each of them, of course, have been rebuilt from the ground up, faithful to the classic versions. Those featured in the N. Sane Trilogy—Crash Bandicoot, Cortex Strikes Back, and Warped–were brought back to life by Vicarious Visions. Beenox took care of Crash Team Racing’s remake, which just hit store shelves earlier this summer.

Activision released a similar bundle late last year, packaging Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Spyro Reignited Trilogy in one box. If the new Crash bundle is anything like the Crash/Spyro packaging, the Crash/CTR titles are likely to be printed on separate discs. As such, akin to the N. Sane Trilogy’s original release, the trilogy may only feature one game on its disc, while the other two will require players to download a hefty update. Hopefully, Activision will offer clarification on these details as the reported launch date draws near.

[Source: Amazon]

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In the last couple of years, Activision has brought back two beloved franchises from the dead with Crash Bandicoot and Spyro remasters. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Spyro Reignited Trilogy, and Crash Team Racing Nitro Refueled have all performed well for the publisher. With that in mind, might Activision consider remastering even more of the classics in its portfolio? According to Publishing President Rob Kostich, those who are interested in such news should probably “stay tuned” for future announcements.

Kostich spoke of Activision’s remastered releases in a Q&A session during a recent financial call. Activision’s key aim in this regard seems to be in ensuring its older properties can continue to endure in some capacity. Kostich said the following,

The player response has been fantastic. When you look at Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, that has sold through over 10 million copies, so they’re obviously having a big impact on our bottom line. I say what’s really important is reaffirming the enduring nature of these franchises. When we look at our IP library, we think there’s a lot of IP’s in there that fans are going to want to experience again. To that one I say stay tuned for future announcements.

This statement from Kostich evidently suggests Activision intends to remaster more of its older IP. What the publisher may be considering beyond the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro franchises remains to be seen, however. Perhaps proper Tony Hawk Pro Skater remasters could one day see the light of day (Editor’s Note: Please give me a proper remaster of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3), since the recent attempt to revive the franchise have not gone over so well, critically or commercially. Of course, there are also a bevy of licensed games in the company’s catalog that many fans probably wouldn’t mind seeing revisited to some degree.

Moreover, the success of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy raised quite a few questions about the series’ future. Chief amongst them is whether Activision would ever consider producing original Crash titles. Could this be another way in which the publisher goes about “reaffirming the enduring nature” of the series? The studio has added original levels to the Trilogy, perhaps sharpening their skills to bring about an all-new Crash. It seems we will have to wait and see.

[Source: Activision via Twinfinite, MP1st]

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As if the Crash Bandicoot resurgence wasn’t already in full swing, more good news has surfaced for the character’s latest outing in Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. According to industry analyst Daniel Ahmad, Activision has reported that the N. Sane Trilogy has reached ten million units in sales across the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Xbox One since its 2017 launch.

Ahmad shared the news on Twitter. His post is featured below:

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy has sold-in over 10 million units since its 2017 release according to Activision. pic.twitter.com/LtpAlaOiZZ

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) February 12, 2019

The analyst later followed this information with additional details about the franchise’s sales in previous generations. Reportedly, the first Crash Bandicoot sold 6.8 million units on the original PlayStation. Concrete numbers for the title’s two sequels aren’t presently available. However, they are estimated to have sold comparably to their predecessor.

With the ten million sales figure in mind for Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, it’s no wonder another remake from the series’ past is already in the works. Following a number of hints and teases, Crash Team Racing received a remake announcement during The Game Awards 2018. Developed by Beenox, the team behind Skylanders: Superchargers, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled will release in June 2019.

Unfortunately, the good news for Crash emerged amidst a sea of bad for Activision, most notably for approximately 775 of its employees. Despite the publisher earning revenue to the tune of record-breaking numbers in 2018, nearly 800 people were laid off in Activision’s pursuit to reach its “full potential.”

[Source: Activision via Daniel Ahmad on Twitter]

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The Spyro Reignited Trilogy looks just lovely, doesn’t it? The wave of nostalgia knocks you right off your feet and the colors sweep you away in all their vibrancy. Aside from that, though, there’s not much to it. I’m not saying that updated visuals don’t count for anything, though; I’m just saying that they shouldn’t count for everything.

The Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy launched to widespread critical acclaim and massive commercial success. It’s no wonder, then, that Sony sought to reinvigorate another PlayStation icon with a remaster of its own. That’s where Spyro Reignited came from. Although I’m as fond of the purple dragon as the next Sony fan—and I’m grateful to be able to play as the little legend—I do take issue with the fact that some remasters aren’t quite as deserving of the “master” part of that compound term as others.

Let’s look at Bluepoint’s Shadow of the Colossus remake. That’s a remake, not a remaster. It’s absolutely breathtaking visually, just as Fumito Ueda’s original was back on the PS2. The Shadow remake, though, is something that was emphatically remade. It didn’t just get a gloss—it was converted into a PS4 game. If Shadow of the Colossus came out in 2018, it would hold its own against the AAA games of today. It’s just that good.

Even Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection is utterly fantastic. Making the first Uncharted game suitable for PS4 play was a serious feat, so launching the whole series in its remade glory was both ambitious of the studio and respectful of fans. The games look gorgeous, just like Spyro Reignited, but they’re also much more compatible with PS4 mechanics than their prior generation counterparts. Granted, Spyro Reignited looks even more stunning than lots of recent releases, but I reiterate—that isn’t enough.

The PS5 is rumored for a 2020 release, especially since Sony announced that they wouldn’t be appearing at E3 in 2019. With spin-off games like Fallout 76 being all the rage at the moment, it seems that a lot of studios are gearing up to launch the next iteration of their mainline titles on next-gen consoles. Alongside spin-offs, we’re seeing lots of remasters. “Remaster” is a complex term that I’m a little uncomfortable with for the reasons mentioned above. Now that we’ve seen what a remake looks like, should we settle for remasters?

I’m being a bit cynical, really, especially given the fact that I’m happy to play remasters of games I’m nostalgically attached to. The updated graphics make me feel similarly to the way I felt when I first played these games. Seeing 90s animation revamped into a contemporary engine fills me to the brim with wonder and awe. Recently, however, I’ve been questioning that sense of awe, which sort of pulls me out of the experience of playing the game. Is this what these games are playing up to? My “Oh, I loved this game as a kid, and oh, look! Lovely colors!”

It’s great to see treasured games getting another stint in the spotlight, especially considering that there’s an entirely new generation of players who never got to experience them the first time around. For a thirteen-year-old, this could be the first time they’ve ever witnessed the glory of the Spyro trilogy, and it’s important for iconic games to be playable. I don’t think the average teenager who is accustomed to consoles of the current generation would be particularly fond of playing Spyro on the PS1, so aside from the nostalgic investment of players who have played the games before, remasters allow for new players to play for the first time. That’s important—essential, even—but the question remains: why not a remake?

I’m very aware that I may be in the minority here. I’d like to be able to sit back and enjoy the ride, and for a long time that’s exactly what I did. Now, though, the polished surface shows the reflection of my gaze, and I don’t see what I saw the first time around. Granted, I’m older. Granted, I know what’s up next. Still, though, the fact remains that something has been changed irreparably. It’s not that I’m older now or that I know what’s up next. I played Pokemon Let’s Go recently on the Nintendo Switch and enjoyed it immensely, as that was a remake, not a remaster. A remastered game feels like it was designed with the brief of “let’s get this out fast and make an easy quid or two.” It’s upsetting—for me, anyway.

My point is that now that remakes are commonplace, largely thanks to the wonderful efforts of Bluepoint Games, remasters seem like shameless rehashes. I can still enjoy them, but I wear a smirk that’s fighting back a grimace while doing so. It’s tiring and defeating, for the most part, and that’s what upsets me. It took me quite some time to admit that to myself.

Essential Reading:

• How Toys for Bob is Breathing Life into Nostalgia with Spyro Reignited Trilogy
• Double Standards – Moving Forward With Microtransactions
• When a Game’s Schtick Doesn’t Stick the Landing – The Quiet Man

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Several retailers including Wal-Mart have listed Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy bundle on their websites for a price of $59.99. Spotted by ResetEra user Motwera, the bundle is apparently set for release on November 13, when Spyro Reignited Trilogy arrives on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

The bundle will be available on the PS4 and Xbox One. You can check out the box art above and a description provided by Wal-Mart below:

Your favorite Dragon and Bandicoot are back! With the Spyro + Crash Remastered Game Bundle, you get two fully remastered trilogies, the Spyro Reignited Trilogy and the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, for a total of six iconic games.

• Rekindle the fire with the original three Spyro games, Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage! and Spyro: Year of the Dragon.
• Then spin, jump, and wump as you take on the three Crash games that started it all, Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, and Crash Bandicoot: Warped.

Six games for $60 is a pretty good deal for those who have yet to play Crash Bandicoot and/or are interested in the upcoming Spyro trilogy.

While the bundle hasn’t officially been announced yet, it’s safe to assume we’ll hear something soon. Stay tuned.

[Source: ResetEra]

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It seems that one game is favored in the United Kingdom above all others. According to the latest weekly UK sales chart, Vicarious Visions’ Crash Bandicoot: N.Sane Trilogy has remained at the very top of the chart for the eighth week in a row, an impressive feat for any release. The title was at the top the week of August 6, 2018 and has managed to outsell all the current releases.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy has been competing against other major releases, such as Grand Theft Auto V, which is now in second place, and games like God of War and Call of Duty: WWII. Although it has been a while since Sony’s God of War was in the top three, it is still clinging to the middle of the UK sales chart. In addition, LEGO The Incredibles had held second place for five weeks, but this week it fell to fifth place.

Check out the full UK Sales chart below:

1. Crash Bandicoot: N.Sane Trilogy
2. Grand Theft Auto V
3. World of Warcraft: Battle of Azeroth
4. Mario Kart 8: Deluxe
5. LEGO The Incredibles
6. God of War
7. Call of Duty: WWII
8. Super Mario Odyssey
9. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
10. Madden NFL 19

For the time being, Call of Duty: WWII remains the only title that has overthrown Crash Bandicoot. Of course, it’s only a matter of time until nature kicks in and UK gamers just spontaneously return to buying FIFA, as they always have.

[Source: Gamesindustry.biz]

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One day, we all shall fall, but it is not that day for Crash Bandicoot when it comes to the UK Sales Chart. For the sixth week in a row, Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy is number one. At this point, we’re all just wondering what game will overthrow it.

Here are the top ten games from the UK sales chart, for the week ending on August 4, 2018:

1. Crash Bandicoot: N.Sane Trilogy
2. LEGO The Incredibles
3. Mario Kart 8: Deluxe
4. The Crew 2
5. Grand Theft Auto V
6. Call of Duty: WWII
7. God of War
8. Super Mario Odyssey
9. Jurassic World Evolution
10. Mario Tennis Aces

Other than Super Mario Odyssey replacing Sonic Mania Plus, this chart looks pretty similar to last week’s chart, albeit with a slightly different order. The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy‘s number one ranking is particularly impressive, considering that the game came out over a year ago on the PlayStation 4. Of course, it wasn’t until the end of June 2018 that the game made its way to Xbox One and Switch. Surely, these new platforms are responsible for the resurgence of this orange marsupial. Still, six weeks in a row is nothing to sneeze at.

But does Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy really live up to this impressive sales run? Read our review to find out.

Let us know in the comments below what you thought of this remastered trilogy and take a guess at what game will be number one on the UK charts next week.

[Source: Gameindustry.biz]

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It’s Monday morning, folks. That must mean it’s time to have a peek at the latest UK sales chart. Remarkably, this is the fifth week Vicarious Visions’ Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy has been at the very top of the software sales chart for the United Kingdom. Just to refresh your memory, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy contains the entire Crash Bandicoot series, which consists of Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, and Crash Bandicoot: Warped. 

This week also marks the return of Grand Theft Auto V, Mario Tennis Aces, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Jurassic World Evolution, all of which did not make last week’s chart. Sony’s God of War is still hanging in there too. Ubisoft seems to be doing okay with their latest racer, The Crew 2, which is back on track and appearing right behind LEGO The Incredibles.

It is worth mentioning that both the UK and the US are going to see a huge number of new releases in the coming months, so the sales charts are bound to see some major changes soon.

The full UK sales charts for the week ending on July 28, 2018, can be seen below:

1. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
2. LEGO The Incredibles
3. The Crew 2
4. God of War
5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
6. Call of Duty: WWII
7. Grand Theft Auto V
8. Sonic Mania Plus
9. Jurassic World Evolution
10. Mario Tennis Aces

Which one of these games have you been playing all summer? Have you been playing any other titles? Let us know in the comments.

[Source: Gamesindustry.biz]

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