Crash 4 studio Toys for Bob is officially supporting Warzone development amid layoff claims

Toys for Bob has announced it is supporting Call of Duty: Warzone development, amid claims of layoffs at the Activision-owned studio.

The Novato, California-based developer, which made 2018’s Spyro Reignited Trilogy and 2020’s Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, tweeted to say it’s “proud to support development for Season 3 of Call of Duty #Warzone, and look forward to more to come”.

“Glad to have you on the project with us!” responded Raven Software, which has worked on Warzone with Modern Warfare studio Infinity Ward since the outset of the battle royale game’s development.

UPDATE 04/05/21: Activision has told VGC Toys For Bob ‘will continue to support’ Crash Bandicoot 4, in addition to its new role on Call of Duty, and denied reports of layoffs.

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ORIGINAL STORY CONTINUES: The announcement comes amid claims from a former contract character designer at Toys for Bob that the studio was recently hit with a round of layoffs.

Nicholas Kole worked on Toy for Bob’s recent Spyro and Crash games during over three year with the company before departing in January 2021, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“It’s the end of an era, but I wish my former coworkers still with TFB all the best with what’s ahead!” he wrote in response to the studio’s Warzone announcement.

“I’m very glad it’s not a totally shuttering”, he also commented, adding: “Everyone I interfaced with and worked along was let go”.

VGC has contacted Activision requesting comment on the layoff claims and further information about Toys for Bob’s long-term development plans.

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Ahead of the launch on Warzone Season 3 last week, Raven discussed how the game’s massive success has impacted developments behind the scenes at the Madison, Wisconsin-based studio.

The free-to-play battle royale game has been a smash hit since its March 2020 launch, attracting six million players in 24 hours, 15 million in three days, 30 million in 10 days, 50 million in one month, 85 million in nine months, and 100 million in 13 months.

To cope with the demands of its ballooning player base, co-developer Raven—which has contributed to every premium Call of Duty game released since 2010—has been on a major recruitment drive over the past year.

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“I can tell you we’ve been hiring like crazy at Raven,” creative director Amos Hodge told VGC in a Warzone interview published last week to coincide with the launch of Season 3.

“We have jobs posted all over the place and we’re looking for new talent. If any of your readers out there are interested… we have more ideas than we can do!

“Warzone was a smash hit success,” he continued. “All the studios are helping on it, but it’s also additional to our normal Call of Duty schedule. We have a normal Call of Duty schedule and this is on top of that, so we’ve had to grow really fast.”