Crash Team Rumble

Crash Team Rumble
Developer(s)Toys for Bob
Publisher(s)Activision
Director(s)
  • Daniel Neil
  • Lou Studdert
Producer(s)
  • Matt Copeland
  • Maria Rosseau
  • Scot Tumlin
  • Elena Morillo-Peterson
  • Peter Kavic
Designer(s)Toby Schadt
Artist(s)
  • Amber Long
  • Dev Madan
  • Josh Nadelberg
Writer(s)Mandy Benanav
SeriesCrash Bandicoot
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)
ReleaseJune 20, 2023
Genre(s)Real-time strategy, platform
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Crash Team Rumble is a 2023 online multiplayer video game developed by Toys for Bob and published by Activision. The game is the third of the party genre released in the Crash Bandicoot series, and features several members of its cast as playable characters. The gameplay pits two teams of players against each other as they stockpile Wumpa Fruit while impeding the opposing team's efforts.

Crash Team Rumble was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on June 20, 2023. The game received mixed reviews from critics. It was Toys for Bob's final game produced as an Activision studio before becoming independent in February 2024.[1] It received a final content update on March 4, 2024.[2] It is also the final game released by Activision Blizzard before its acquisition by Microsoft.[3]

Gameplay

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Crash Team Rumble is an online multiplayer "strategic platformer" with a competitive four-versus-four format.[4][5] A number of Crash Bandicoot characters are playable, including Crash, Coco, Tawna, Cortex, Dingodile, N. Tropy's female counterpart, N. Brio, and newcomer Catbat.[6] Teams must capture more Wumpa Fruit than the other team to claim victory. In addition to depositing their own Wumpa Fruit at a drop-off zone, players must also defend their opponent's drop-off zone to prevent them from depositing their own supply. Each character has unique skills and abilities with which to battle the opposing team.[7][8][9][10] The character roster is divided into three roles: "Blocker", "Booster", and "Scorer".[11] The game features cross-platform play.[12]

Marketing and release

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On October 7, 2022, Activision delivered a package to influencers consisting of a pizza box with an attached receipt announcing the release of Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time via Steam on October 18. A message at the bottom of the receipt teased the announcement of a new Crash Bandicoot title on December 8, the date of The Game Awards 2022.[13] At the awards ceremony, Crash Team Rumble was announced via a debut trailer, with a projected 2023 release for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.[9] It is the latest Crash Bandicoot title to be developed by Toys for Bob after Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time.[7]

On March 21, 2023, Activision announced a closed beta release from April 20 to 24 for those who pre-ordered the game, with a full release following on June 20. The game was released in a standard and deluxe edition; the standard edition includes a battle pass for the first season, while the deluxe edition includes an additional battle pass for the second season, a 25-tier instant unlock for the first season, and a pack of cosmetic skins and equipment.[11]

Reception

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Crash Team Rumble received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[14][15]

Game Informer felt like each character played like their mainline counterparts, writing, "Controlling Crash – or one of nine other starting characters from the franchise – feels wonderful".[17] Destructoid criticized the game's monetization, but praised the focus on player agency: "I've seen plenty of matches where individual players can make the difference in a marked way, cleaning up an entire team or blowing a crucial cooldown to defend a base when the enemy has the fruit they need to dunk and win".[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Skylanders and Crash Bandicoot studio Toys For Bob is leaving Activision and going independent". VGC. February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Crash Team Rumble will be getting no more content updates after next week". VGC. February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Ivan, Tom (October 13, 2023). "Microsoft has officially completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Palumbo, Alessio (March 21, 2023). "Crash Team Rumble Is All About Taking Platforming Into Multiplayer". Wcctech. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  5. ^ Holstine, Michelle; Aundawyn, Erika (April 3, 2023). "Let's Get Ready to Rumble on Crash Team Rumble!". Couch Soup. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  6. ^ "Crash Team Rumble Gameplay". Activision Support. Activision Publishing. June 16, 2023. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Lyles, Taylor (December 8, 2022). "Crash Team Rumble is a New 4v4 Multiplayer Game Coming in 2023". IGN. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  8. ^ Gurwin, Gabe (December 8, 2022). "Crash Team Rumble Announced, Features Eight-Player Competitive Online Matches". GameSpot. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Wald, Heather (December 8, 2022). "Crash Team Rumble is a new 4v4 online multiplayer game coming in 2023". GamesRadar+. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  10. ^ McWhertor, Michael (December 8, 2022). "Crash Bandicoot returns in new multiplayer action game, Crash Team Rumble". Polygon. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Scullion, Chris (March 21, 2023). "Crash Team Rumble release date and closed beta confirmed". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  12. ^ Shea, Brian (December 8, 2022). "Crash Team Rumble Is A Competitive 4v4 Game Starring Crash Bandicoot And Friends". Game Informer. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  13. ^ Romano, Sal (October 7, 2022). "Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time coming to Steam on October 18; new game announcement teased for December 8". Gematsu. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Crash Team Rumble for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Crash Team Rumble for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Carter, Chris (June 20, 2023). "Review: Crash Team Rumble". Destructoid. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Garst, Aaron (June 21, 2023). "Crash Team Rumble Review - A Bandicoot Bash". Game Informer. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  18. ^ Delaney, Mark (June 28, 2023). "Crash Team Rumble Review - A Fresh Spin". GameSpot. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  19. ^ Dunsmore, Kevin (June 19, 2023). "Review: Crash Team Rumble". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  20. ^ Borger, Will (June 30, 2023). "Crash Team Rumble Review". IGN. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  21. ^ Croft, Liam (June 26, 2023). "Crash Team Rumble Review (PS5)". Push Square. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  22. ^ Mejia, Ozzie (June 19, 2023). "Crash Team Rumble review: Crash course". Shacknews. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  23. ^ Wood, Rhys (June 26, 2023). "Crash Team Rumble review - a tragically fun time". TechRadar. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
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