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Spyro: A Realm Beyond

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Spyro: A Realm Beyond
DeveloperToys for Bob
PublisherActivision
SeriesSpyro
EngineUnreal Engine 5
Platforms
ReleaseQ1/Q2 2027
GenrePlatformer
ModeSingle-player

Spyro: A Realm Beyond is an upcoming platform video game developed by Toys for Bob and published by Activision. The ninth mainline entry in the series and the sixth in its classic continuity, it is the first Spyro game released since Spyro Reignited Trilogy (2018) and the first completely original Spyro game since The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon (2008).[1] It is scheduled for release in 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.

Gameplay

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Spyro: A Realm Beyond places a greater emphasis on exploration and aerial movement than previous entries in the series. The game introduces free-flight mechanics, allowing players to fly across the game world instead of being restricted to levels. Players can combine dives, climbs, and turns while exploring interconnected environments.[2]

Premise

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Spyro: A Realm Beyond follows Spyro after he becomes stranded in a mysterious realm. While searching for a way to return home, he encounters an invading force known as the Scavs. During his journey, Spyro forms alliances with the realm's inhabitants and becomes involved in efforts to defend the realm from the invasion.[3]

Development

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Spyro: A Realm Beyond is being developed by Toys for Bob, the studio previously responsible for Spyro Reignited Trilogy (2018). In October 2023, following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the Toys for Bob studio and the Spyro intellectual property became owned by Xbox.[4] In February 2024, Toys for Bob announced that it would become an independent studio, separating from Activision and Xbox. Studio leaders Paul Yan and Avery Lodato stated that the move would allow the company to return to its roots as a smaller and more agile developer. The studio indicated that it expected to maintain a working relationship with Microsoft in the future.[5] In May 2024, Toys for Bob announced a publishing partnership with Xbox for its next game, though the project was still in the early stages of development.[6] In April 2025, Yan described the game as "big and ambitious", and noted that development was progressing well.[7] Toys for Bob admitted that the "loud and consistent" fan community around the Spyro Reignited Trilogy prompted them to return to Spyro with Spyro: A Realm Beyond.[8] During development, the studio paid mind to potential scope creep to keep the game within budgetary and time constraints.[9] It is being built in Unreal Engine 5.[10]

Tom Kenny, who first voiced Spyro in Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! (1999), will reprise his role for the game.[11][12]

Gameplay design

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With Spyro: A Realm Beyond, Toys for Bob wanted to evolve the gameplay from what they did on the Spyro Reignited Trilogy with a greater focus on movement. Studio head Paul Yan mentioned the difficulty of gameplay innovation, stating that "if you stick too much to nostalgia, then you basically just rehash" but if "you innovate too much, [...] you don't even recognize what the character is and what the series is." Yan further stated that A Realm Beyond's goal is to reinvigorate the series, hoping that the game would be "the first of many" new titles.[13] The free flight mechanic became the first focus in the prototyping stage and became the central feature that influenced the game design.[14] Yan described it as a "natural way" to progress and build off of the Reignited Trilogy. The first Spyro game where the player can take flight at any time, creative director Lou Studdert said the studio were "leaning into the true capabilities of being a dragon" in Spyro: A Realm Beyond. The player has to actively flap Spyro's wings to maintain flight with the ability to dive downwards to gain speed and use campfires as an updraft to gain height.[15] With the flight system, Yan emphasized that Toys for Bob wanted to ensure that A Realm Beyond did not become a "flight simulator" and instead wanted to encourage a sense of "active decision-making" in guiding Spyro like with platforming.[16]

Music

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Stewart Copeland, the composer for the original trilogy and Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly, stated that he was not working on A Realm Beyond.[17][18][19]

Release

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Spyro: A Realm Beyond was announced on June 7, 2026, during the Xbox Games Showcase.[20] The trailer received over 10 million views in two days, outperforming Marvel's Wolverine trailer shown during the same presentation.[21] The game is scheduled for release in early 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.[1][22] It will be available through Xbox Game Pass at launch and will support Play Anywhere cross-progression on Xbox and Windows.[22]

References

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  1. 1 2 Partis, Danielle (June 7, 2026). "Spyro: A Realm Beyond Interview - A New Design, Full Flight, Tom Kenny Returns and More". Xbox Wire. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  2. ↑ Wen, Alan (June 7, 2026). "Spyro Devs Don't See Many Comparisons To Its Flying, Except Iron Man Or Flight Sims". GameSpot. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  3. ↑ Chris, Penwell (June 7, 2026). "Everything You Need to Know About Spyro: A Realm Beyond". GameTyrant. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  4. ↑ Dinsdale, Ryan (October 13, 2023). "The Biggest Franchises Xbox Now Owns After Acquiring Activision Blizzard". IGN. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  5. ↑ Doolan, Liam (March 1, 2024). "Crash Bandicoot Dev Toys For Bob Splits From Activision & Xbox, Goes Independent". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  6. ↑ Fragen, Jordan (June 1, 2024). "Toys for Bob confirms publishing deal with Xbox for new title". GamesBeat. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  7. ↑ Serin, Kaan (April 11, 2025). "After working on something "big and ambitious" with Xbox, the Spyro and Crash studio wants to tackle another iconic platformer: Banjo-Kazooie". GamesRadar+. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  8. ↑ Blake, Vikki (June 13, 2026). "Spyro: A Realm Beyond exists only because of its "loud and consistent" community of fans". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  9. ↑ Lewis, Catherine (July 12, 2026). "Spyro: A Realm Beyond devs don't have the time or budget for all the "cool ideas" they had for the first all-new Spyro game in ages, studio lead says". GamesRadar+. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  10. ↑ Makar, Connor (June 7, 2026). "Spyro: A Realm Beyond brings the beloved purple dragon back into the spotlight at the Xbox Games showcase". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  11. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (June 7, 2026). "A classic PlayStation franchise is officially making a comeback in 2027". Polygon. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  12. ↑ Corden, Jez (June 7, 2026). "Spyro: A Realm Beyond coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch 2 in 2027". Windows Central. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  13. ↑ Catherine, Lewis; West, Josh (June 8, 2026). "Spyro: A Realm Beyond devs "hope that this is the first of many" new games in the series: "We want Spyro to live on for a long time"". GamesRadar+. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  14. ↑ DeFreitas, Casey (June 7, 2026). "Spyro: A Realm Beyond Announced, Features 'True Dragon Flight'". IGN. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  15. ↑ MacDonald, Keza (June 7, 2026). "Spyro the Dragon returns with a new game after almost two decades". The Guardian. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  16. ↑ Lewis, Catherine (July 11, 2026). "Spyro: A Realm Beyond devs didn't want their platformer to be a "flight simulator," so you can't leave your favorite dragon on "autopilot"". GamesRadar+. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  17. ↑ O'Connor, Roisin (June 16, 2026). "Drummer Stewart Copeland was 'heartbroken' after The Police induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". The Independent. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  18. ↑ Shutler, Ali (June 19, 2026). "The Police's Stewart Copeland won't be back for new 'Spyro' soundtrack". NME. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  19. ↑ Stewart, Marcus (June 18, 2026). "The Police's Stewart Copeland Is Not Composing The New Spyro The Dragon Game But Says 'No Harm, No Foul'". Game Informer. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  20. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (June 7, 2026). "New 'Spyro' Game, Complete With Franchise's First Dragon-Flight Feature, Set for Spring 2027". Variety. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  21. ↑ Hales, Adam (June 10, 2026). "Xbox's Spyro reveal just hit 10 million views, and it raises an obvious question for Xbox". Windows Central. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  22. 1 2 Stretch, Andrew (June 10, 2026). "Spyro: A Realm Beyond Is An Original Adventure, But We Still Have A Lot To Learn About It". TechRaptor. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
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Official website

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