As much as Gears of War: E-Day, Clockwork Revolution and other first-party titles hogged the spotlight at the Xbox Games Showcase, Spyro: A Realm Beyond had its fair share of attention. Not only is it the first mainline title since The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon, but it looks to elevate the franchise to new heights. Quite literally, in fact, as it promises true dragon flight.
Toys for Bob has discussed this before, but in an interview with GamesRadar, associate creative director Lou Studdert said the team is aiming for “a zen-like fluidity; we want chaining of moves and exploration – for you to really be interacting with the environment as this quadruped who is its own unique beast.” It’s all for the sake of enabling players to seamlessly transition between exploration on the ground and in the skies.
And it’s far from a gimmick. “Honing in on that feeling, that experience, has been our north star. We want to push the sense of wonder, adventure, and awe that this franchise uniquely delivers,” said Studdert.
But is there a danger of diverting too far from what made the original trilogy, which Toys for Bob remade to great success? Studdert points to the studio’s experience with Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. “What we like to do when we start working on a new project, especially if it is an established IP, is to really hone in on what emotions it brings out.”
Studio head Paul Yan added, “That tension is so real, right? I’m proud of the team. They are thinking that through very thoughtfully, and listening to the community as we do. Because you have these two extremes: If you stick too much to nostalgia, then you basically just rehash what’s been done before; and on the other extreme, if you innovate too much, then all of a sudden players don’t recognize the series anymore.”
Thankfully, those who enjoyed the Reignited Trilogy should feel right at home with A Realm Beyond. “We learned a lot during the development of Reignited,” continued Yan. “We’ve carried a lot of those lessons forward into A Realm Beyond – and obviously they are very different projects; we aren’t recreating classics this time. But we’ve built up a confidence in our instincts for what feels tonally right for this character, and I can’t wait for fans to see the direction we’re taking the series in.”
Spyro: A Realm Beyond launches in 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. For more details on how the flight mechanics work and how Toys for Bob is designing its worlds around the same, head here.
