Activision finally addressed the elephant in the room during their fourth quarter conference call for investors yesterday when asked whether or not there would be a new Skylanders video game in 2017. The answer, as has been speculated since November, is no.
This year will mark the first time since 2011 when Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure began the franchise that a new annual console entry will not be released. Instead, work is moving forward on a new mobile game expected to release later this year.
All is not doom and gloom for the multi-billion dollar Skylanders franchise. While the toys-to-life game is taking a needed break, Activision continues to build equity in the brand through the Activision Blizzard Studios and Netflix series Skylanders Academy. Season 2 is set for release this fall while Season 3 was recently given a green light.
The success of Skylanders Academy means we might see Activision let other toy manufacturers create various figures based on the Netflix series for release this fall. This would allow Activision to back off the expensive toy manufacturing business and focus on creating new content with their valuable kids IP.
The continuing contraction of toys-to-life now leaves only LEGO Dimensions as the only likely new product on store shelves this upcoming holiday season. Disney Infinity was officially canceled last year and there’s no telling if or when Skylanders will return to store shelves as playable figures.
You will next find Skylanders Imaginators, the latest console game in the series that debuted last fall, as a Nintendo Switch launch game on March 3rd.
