If you were hoping for a relaxing, automated way to soar through the skies in the upcoming Spyro: A Realm Beyond, you might want to adjust your expectations. Toys for Bob has confirmed that while the game offers free-roaming flight, it is far from a passive flight simulator.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Kinda Funny Games podcast, associate creative director Louis "Lou" Studdert emphasized that flying is designed to be an active, skill-based experience. "It is pressing buttons. It is almost, you know, that platforming feel of evaluating a play space and figuring out how to continue," Studdert explained.

Active Flight Mechanics

Rather than simply pointing Spyro in a direction and coasting, players will need to constantly evaluate their environment to stay airborne. According to Studdert, the flight system mimics traditional platforming, requiring players to chain different actions together to maintain momentum.

The gameplay loop involves several tactical inputs:

  • Diving: Used to pick up speed.
  • Flame Breath: Can be used to ignite distant campfires, which then create wind updrafts for quicker lift.
  • Wing Flapping: A manual input required to push momentum and keep speed high.
  • Sky Rings: Players can fly through these environmental objects to receive a mid-air boost.

No Autopilot for Spyro

Studio head Paul Yan underscored the team's commitment to this active approach, noting that they want players to feel a sense of agency when navigating the world. "It's super important for us that the player is able to say, 'Look at that thing off in the distance. How do I get there?'" Yan said. "What we don't want is for it to be a flight simulator where we say, 'OK, here's the destination, hit in the GPS, we're going to coast and get there.'"

Yan confirmed there will be no "autopilot" option, reiterating that the goal is to keep the player engaged with the mechanics even while traversing the air.

Quick Facts

  • Release Window: Early 2026.
  • Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch.
  • Developer: Toys for Bob (now an independent studio).

With Spyro: A Realm Beyond set to launch early next year, Toys for Bob has expressed hope that this title will be the first of many new entries in the series, aiming to keep the franchise alive for a long time to come.