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Historical preview: this article covers what Activision announced about Skylanders SWAP Force in 2013, not current availability or pricing.
Skylanders SWAP Force’s defining idea was physical customization: players could detach compatible figures at the waist, combine different tops and bottoms, and place the result on a Portal of Power for the game to recognize. Activision said its 16 swappable characters allowed more than 250 combinations. The 2013 preview framed that mechanic as the next major step in the toy-and-game series.
What is Skylanders: Swap Force?
Skylanders SWAP Force is the third main Skylanders game, following Spyro’s Adventure and Giants. Like those games, it connects physical character figures to a console game through a Portal of Power. Its signature addition is that special SWAP Force figures split into upper and lower halves, letting players build a character from two different figures.
That made the toys functional customization pieces rather than only collectible figures. Activision’s February 2013 announcement described the game recognizing each physical combination, while GamesBeat’s preview illustrated the appeal as pairing a fast-moving lower half with a more powerful upper half.
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How does the figure-and-portal system work?
The Portal of Power connects to the console. In GamesBeat’s account, placing a figure on it brings that character and its saved status into the game; players can also change characters during play. A SWAP Force figure’s top and bottom connect magnetically, and the game identifies the resulting pairing when it is placed on the portal.
The combinations are made from the 16 SWAP Force characters—not 250 separate figures. Activision’s claim was more than 250 possible pairings from those swappable toys.
How many characters and combinations were announced?
Activision’s October 2013 launch announcement described 40 new characters across three groups. The following counts are publisher product figures for the launch lineup:
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- Night Shift and Boom Jet 2 Pack
| Launch group | Count | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| SWAP Force characters | 16 | Figures with detachable, interchangeable top and bottom halves. |
| Core characters | 16 | New characters without the SWAP Force split-body mechanic. |
| LightCore characters | 8 | A separate group of new figures in the launch lineup. |
The launch release also said the game supported more than 100 figures from the first two games. That is a broader compatibility count, distinct from the 16 new SWAP Force figures and their combination total.
Can you use old Skylanders figures in Swap Force?
Yes. Activision said players could use their collections from Spyro’s Adventure and Giants in SWAP Force, and its October launch announcement cited compatibility with more than 100 characters from those earlier games. The older figures do not gain the detachable-body feature; that mechanic belongs to SWAP Force figures.
Activision also said jumping became available in this game, expanding how characters could move through levels. Its launch material described additional movement abilities including flying, climbing, and teleporting. These are announced game features, not results from independent performance testing.
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- Includes: Skylanders SWAP Force Triple Character Pack (Lava Barf Eruptor, Slobber Tooth, Super Gulp Pop Fizz), Trading Card, and Sticker Sheet
What modes and version differences were announced?
Activision’s October launch release listed drop-in/drop-out cooperative play, as well as Battle and Survival modes. The Nintendo 3DS release had its own story and levels, rather than simply duplicating the console versions’ content.
Which platforms and studios were involved?
The platform plan changed between the February preview and the later announcements. GamesBeat reported in February 2013 that Vicarious Visions was developing versions for Wii U, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3; Beenox was handling Wii; and n-Space was handling Nintendo 3DS. The preview said Toys for Bob, developer of the previous games, was not developing this installment but was providing input, according to an Activision representative.
Activision’s June E3 announcement added PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Its platform and studio assignments were:
| Platform | Developer named by Activision at E3 2013 |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U | Vicarious Visions |
| Wii | Beenox |
| Nintendo 3DS | n-Space |
The October launch release confirmed the seven-platform lineup and specified the distinct 3DS story and levels.
When did it launch, and what did it cost in 2013?
Activision’s June 2013 announcement scheduled releases for North America on October 13, Australia on October 16, and Europe on October 18. Its October 13 release announced that the game had launched in North America.
For the U.S. market, Activision’s June announcement listed suggested retail prices of $74.99 for the starter pack, $9.99 for core figures, and $14.99 for new SWAP Force figures. Those are historical 2013 suggested prices, not current prices or a guide to today’s used-market listings. For a legacy copy, check the console version and listing condition, and verify whether it includes the game, Portal of Power, and figures.
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- Includes: Skylanders SWAP Force Spy Rise (SWAP-able), Trading Card, and Sticker Sheet
- All Skylanders Spyro's Adventure, Skylanders Giants, and Skylanders SWAP Force figures work with Skylanders Trap Team.
Why did Activision call it a big bet?
The central bet was that physical mix-and-match figures could give an established toy-game format a new reason to engage with its toys: players could customize a character in their hands and have that exact pairing represented in the game. The company’s February 2013 announcement described the mechanic as a major extension of bringing toys to life.
Commercial context helps explain the scale of the launch, but it should be read as Activision’s reporting. In its February 2013 announcement, the company said the franchise had generated more than $500 million in U.S. retail sales, including accessories and figures, through December 2012, citing The NPD Group. In its October launch release, Activision called Skylanders the top-selling kids’ video game franchise of 2013 based on revenue, using data from NPD, GfK Media Control, and company estimates and including toys and accessory packs.
Those figures describe the publisher’s stated commercial case; they do not establish an independent assessment of the game’s quality or the success of the SWAP mechanic by itself.
Quick Recap
Sources
- GamesBeat, Dean Takahashi, February 5, 2013 preview (page updated June 18, 2025).
- Activision, “Skylanders SWAP Force ‘Mixes It Up’ at Toy Fair 2013,” February 5, 2013.
- Activision, “Skylanders SWAP Force, the ‘Must-Have’ Kids’ Game of the Year, Hits Store Shelves Today,” October 13, 2013.
- Activision, E3 2013 lineup announcement, June 2013.
- PlayStation.Blog, “Skylanders Swap Force Dark Edition, Special Edition Revealed,” August 12, 2013.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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