Toys for Bob has offered its first in-depth look at Spyro: A Realm Beyond, revealing new gameplay mechanics, explaining the thinking behind the game’s design and confirming it is still scheduled to launch in Spring 2027.
Speaking with Kinda Funny Games, Associate Creative Director Lou Studdert and Studio Head Paul Yan discussed the game’s new Dragon Flight mechanic, changes to exploration and combat, why the project is titled Spyro: A Realm Beyond instead of Spyro 4, and confirmed development began shortly after the studio became independent more than two years ago.
Dragon Flight Becomes a Core Ability
The biggest gameplay change is Dragon Flight, which turns flying into one of Spyro’s permanent abilities rather than limiting it to dedicated stages.
“We wanted to really push what it meant to be a dragon,” the developers said. “We wanted to push and expand on Spyro’s general playability and his kit of moves.”
The developers explained that the team built the game around the idea of making flight part of Spyro’s standard moveset from the very beginning. “What happens if that is Spyro’s base kit, base ability, and how do we still retain the feeling of exploration and adventure of a Spyro game while also embodying him with that ability to take to the skies at a moment’s notice?”
Players can freely switch between exploring on the ground and in the air. As the developers put it, “You’re going to be exploring on ground, you’re going to be exploring in the air. It’s up to you on how you want to engage with it.”
The studio also stressed that flying is designed around player input rather than passive travel. Spyro builds speed by diving, can flap his wings to maintain momentum, use magical Sky Rings for boosts and fire ranged fireballs to ignite campfires that create updrafts.
“We wanted to make sure that it is active. It is decision-making. It is pressing buttons,” the developers said. “What we don’t want is for it to be a flight simulator where we say, ‘Here’s the destination, hit the GPS and coast there.’ There’s no fun in that. We want active decision-making.”
Larger Worlds and New Combat Options
The addition of permanent flight has led to much larger environments with greater verticality.
The developers said the freedom to fly from the outset allowed the team to create worlds on a grander scale, with “much more verticality”, “much more height to things” and more layered environments than previous Spyro games.
Spyro’s fire breath has also evolved. Instead of relying only on the close-range flamethrower from earlier titles, he can now launch fireballs while flying to interact with distant objects. The developers explained that because players move much faster across larger worlds, “he needed to have more range.”
The developers also revealed that flight formed the foundation of the project rather than being introduced later in development. “It wasn’t, ‘Let’s take everything the way it was and let’s add something new to it,'” the developers said. “We had to start from scratch and build outward.”
Why It Isn’t Called Spyro 4
The developers said the decision to avoid the title Spyro 4 was made to ensure the game would feel welcoming to both returning fans and newcomers.
“We wanted to make sure that this is a welcoming entry point,” the developers said. “This is a place that anyone could start.”
They added that longtime players will spot references to earlier games, but “No homework required.” According to the developers, the subtitle A Realm Beyond reflects the team’s goal of evolving the series, saying, “It speaks to us wanting to take Spyro beyond,” while adding, “We want Spyro to be timeless, not just nostalgic.”
The developers also confirmed that Tom Kenny will return as the voice of Spyro, saying the team wanted to preserve the personality fans know from the original games and noting that Kenny had spent years hearing requests for a new Spyro title at fan conventions.
The studio confirmed development has been underway for “about a little over two years” following Toys for Bob’s move to independence and said the team remains confident in its Spring 2027 release window. The developers also pointed to the success of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, which has sold more than 11 million copies, as evidence that demand for a new entry remains strong.
