Was Skylanders Cancelled? Exploring the Fate of the Toys-to-Life Scene
Skylanders. It was more than just a game. It transformed living rooms into battlegrounds. Collecting those plastic figures became a passion. Then, everything changed. Shelves emptied and new games disappeared. What happened? Was Skylanders cancelled?
Let’s dive into nostalgia and facts. We need to understand the fate of Skylanders. Was it a sudden exit, a slow decline, or a planned ‘hiatus’? Get ready, Portal Masters, as we explore the rise and fall, and even the possible return of Skylanders.
The Hiatus Era: More Than Just a Break?
After Skylanders: Imaginators in 2016, silence fell. Serious silence. Players began to wonder, “Where are the new games?” Activision, the company behind it all, had little to say. Officially, there was no cancellation. Instead, it was a peaceful ‘hiatus’. That sounds better than ‘forgotten’, right?
It’s like a band that takes an ‘indefinite break’ after a flop. Activision didn’t shout, “Skylanders is dead!” It let the message sink in. The main console games vanished quickly. Future plans were limited to a mobile game, Ring of Heroes. Remember it? Probably not. It lasted until 2022 before shutting down. If you hoped for a sequel… try your luck elsewhere.
Imaginators: The Game That Wasn’t Meant to Flop
Let’s discuss creation crystals. Skylanders: Imaginators aimed to be huge. You could create your own Skylanders! But apparently, few cared. It won some awards, but it flopped massively. That’s gotta hurt more than stepping on LEGO.
Sales figures? Not impressive. Around 66,000 copies sold in its launch month in the US. By year’s end, total sales were under 100,000. For a franchise that once made billions, these numbers were disheartening. It contrasted sharply with the days when parents fought to buy the latest figurine.
The Toys-to-Life Apocalypse: When the Party Ended
Skylanders’ downfall wasn’t just from underperformance. It was part of a broader trend called the ‘toys-to-life’ crash. Disney Infinity and LEGO Dimensions also struggled for market share. Eventually, the toys-to-life craze faded. Parents grew tired of buying new figures.
The final blow was when LEGO Dimensions canceled its Year 3 lineup on October 23, 2017. When LEGO quit, you knew the end was near. It felt like a captain abandoning ship. Activision saw this and decided to end Skylanders console games.
Skylanders Academy: Netflix Part Ways with Skylands
Even the animated tales of Spyro, Stealth Elf, and Eruptor could not escape change. Skylanders Academy charmed fans on Netflix for three seasons. It was fun and perfect for younger audiences. However, even Netflix moved on. On April 30, 2019, they announced the cancellation. Three seasons was decent but far from ideal.
The Future is Unwritten: Reboot Dreams and Fan-Made Fantasies
Is Skylanders dead? Not exactly. The gaming world loves nostalgia. Reboot rumors circulate regularly. Could a new Skylanders game emerge? Most likely, in time. Microsoft now owns the Skylanders brand after acquiring Activision. Microsoft profits from nostalgia.
The internet buzzes with fan projects and dreams. There’s talk of Skylanders: Animal Riders for 2025 on multiple consoles. Then there’s Skylanders: ShapeShifters from Toys For Bob for every console imaginable. Lastly, Skylanders: The Masterpiece Collection promises digital remasters. That one missed its deadline but excitement is present!
Fan projects like Skylanders: Rune Rangers aim for a 2026 release. They show love for Skylanders stays alive, even without Activision’s support. Whether fans take action or Activision reignites the IP is unknown. Hope remains among Portal Masters.
Ring of Heroes: A Mobile Misadventure
Let’s not forget Skylanders: Ring of Heroes. It was the last official output from the universe before fading away. Launched as a mobile RPG, it gave fans hope for new content. However, it didn’t last long. The servers closed in February 2022.
It wasn’t terrible but lacked the charm of console titles. It felt like a temporary fix for a fading brand while Activision figured out its next steps.
Skylanders Figures: Eternal Plastic Soldiers?
One highlight of Skylanders was its figures. The tiny collectibles were more than toys; they unlocked characters in-game. Good news for hoarders: your figures should still work! The RFID chips inside last around 10 years. So, those early figures are likely still operational.
Also, Skylanders toys are compatible with future games! Every toy will work in any game that follows its release. Activision did something right! If a new game launches, your old collection will be ready for action again.
And what about those Portals of Power? They will work backward too.
Your Imaginators portal works with all Skylanders games. If you want to revisit Spyro’s Adventure or Giants, there’s no need for an old portal. Just clean your figures, and that’s it. It’s a small but good thing in a time of tech upgrades and losses.
Skylanders Deep Dive: Questions Answered
Let’s address the burning questions about Skylanders. You know you’ve thought about them.
Why are Skylanders so costly?
Back in their prime, Skylanders figures were not cheap. You paid for the figure, the RFID chip, and licensing fees, plus Activision wanted profit. Nowadays, they are affordable on the second-hand market. Time to search on eBay!
How to fix broken Skylanders?
If your Skylander is “dead,” it may be an RFID chip issue. Fixing it is hard. Often, a Skylander seems dead due to a dirty portal or a glitch. Clean your portal, restart your console, and it may help. Worth a shot.
Can you reset Skylanders?
Yes! In most games, you can reset a Skylander’s level to level 1. This works if you want to start fresh or lend a Skylander without overpowered stats. Look for the reset function in your game’s menu options under character management.
Why is Spyro in Skylanders?
This question has history. Skylanders began as a Spyro game! Originally named Spyro’s Kingdom, it was to be a new Spyro adventure. But then the toys-to-life idea emerged, and it became Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. Spyro is the starting point, the original Skylander.
What is the top Skylanders game?
This is subjective, but many fans see Skylanders: Giants as the best. It introduced Giant Skylanders, bigger figures with more power, and improved gameplay from Spyro’s Adventure. Giants became the best-selling game in the US and Europe that year. Other choices include Spyro’s Adventure and Trap Team. Ultimately, it depends on personal preference.
What is the rarest Skylander?
Rarity in Skylanders figures can be debated. However, some figures are consistently rare. Dark Spyro from the starter pack, Crystal variants, and some E3 promotional figures are hard to find. Expect to pay a high price for these if you want a complete set. It can be a costly rabbit hole.
Who is Kaos’ father?
Those interested in Skylanders lore should know Kaos’ dad is Count Moneybags from Skylanders: Trap Team. Yes, that Moneybags from classic Spyro games. It adds absurdity to Kaos’ villainy.
Who is the floating head?
The floating head is Master Eon, the wise Portal Master guiding the Skylanders. He is like Gandalf in Skylands, sharing wisdom with players. Despite being a head, he remains resilient and dedicated to fighting evil.
What Skylanders can heal?
Some Skylanders can heal. Characters like Tree Rex (Life element), Stealth Elf (Life element), and Ninjini (Magic element) hold healing powers. Check their upgrade paths to enhance these abilities. Healers are valuable in tougher games.
What does the bottom color mean?
The color on a Skylander’s base shows their element. Each belongs to eight elements: Earth (brown), Air (blue), Fire (red), Water (green), Life (greenish-yellow), Undead (purple), Tech (orange), and Magic (pink). Element matching matters in games.
Who is the oldest Skylander?
Lore-wise, Master Eon may be the oldest due to his wisdom. Among playable Skylanders, Tree Rex from Skylanders: Giants is often noted as one of the oldest both in-universe and by release date.
Who is the target audience of Skylanders?
Skylanders targeted kids aged 6-12 years old. The colorful characters and simple gameplay appeal to this age. Yet, older players and collectors also enjoy the world and nostalgic aspects.
How many Skylanders exist?
Get ready: More than 300 unique Skylanders figures have been released! Collecting them all is quite a task (and a financial challenge). But hey, you may want to catch them all, right?
Do Skylanders keep their levels?
Yes! This feature is cool. The levels and upgrades of your Skylanders save to the figure, thanks to the RFID chip. You can use your leveled-up Skylander at a friend’s place or on another console, keeping all progress. Like carrying your character anywhere!
Who are the Forgotten 8?
The Forgotten 8 are eight Skylander characters cut from the original Spyro’s Adventure. They became a mythical lost group, and fans wondered about their designs and abilities for years. Some concepts resurfaced later, but the original eight hold a unique place in history.
The Skylands Saga: A Legacy of Toys
Was Skylanders cancelled? Not officially announced but felt like it. After Imaginators, the franchise went into deep freeze. The toys-to-life genre collapsed, sales dropped, and Activision moved to more profitable franchises like Call of Duty. The Academy show ended, the mobile game vanished, and new console games stopped.
However, the spirit of Skylanders lives on. Fans still create, collect, and dream of revival. The figures are small portals to another world. They remind us of when toys and video games joined to engage millions. Perhaps we haven’t seen the end of Spyro, Eruptor, Stealth Elf, and friends. In gaming, reboots are common, and a Skylanders return is possible. Until then, we cherish our memories, collections, and hope that one day, the Portal of Power will glow again.
