What Happened to Spyro the Dragon?

The journey of Spyro the Dragon began in 1998 with the release of the eponymous game for the PlayStation, developed by Insomniac Games. The character, a vibrant purple dragon, quickly became a PlayStation mascot alongside Crash Bandicoot, known for his fire breath, charge attacks, and gliding abilities. The original trilogy, including Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! (1999) and Spyro: Year of the Dragon (2000), garnered critical acclaim and sold millions of copies worldwide, establishing Spyro as a significant figure in 3D platforming.

Following Insomniac Games' departure from the series after the third installment, the Spyro intellectual property changed hands, eventually being acquired by Activision in 2008 after its merger with Vivendi Games. This period saw numerous games developed by various studios across multiple platforms, including the Legend of Spyro trilogy, which shifted towards a more combat-centric approach. Spyro also became a central character in the highly successful Skylanders toys-to-life franchise, which began in 2011, though this move somewhat overshadowed his individual identity as a standalone game hero.

A significant turning point for the classic Spyro experience came in 2018 with the release of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy. Developed by Toys for Bob, this collection faithfully remade the original three PlayStation games with updated graphics and sound, including the return of original composer Stewart Copeland and voice actor Tom Kenny. The Reignited Trilogy was a massive commercial and critical success, selling over 10 million units as of September 2023 and becoming the best-selling game in the franchise, demonstrating a strong demand for the character's classic style of gameplay.

The most recent developments involve Toys for Bob's evolution and a highly anticipated return for Spyro. In January 2024, Toys for Bob experienced layoffs as part of broader Activision Blizzard restructuring under Microsoft, and in February 2024, the studio announced its departure from Activision to become an independent developer. Shortly after, they confirmed a partnership with Microsoft to publish their next new game. This led to widespread speculation about a new Spyro title. These rumors culminated on June 7, 2026, with the official announcement at the Xbox Games Showcase of Spyro: A Realm Beyond. This new game, developed by Toys for Bob, is slated for a Spring 2027 release on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. It promises a redesigned Spyro, full free-flight mechanics, and the return of Tom Kenny's voice, aiming to appeal to both nostalgic fans and a new generation.