Welp, I guess we were a little early on this one.

Activision Publishing has today officially taken the wraps off of a new entry into the Spyro series of action games in the form of Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure, with details and screenshots to further flesh out its existence.

Hailed as “an entertainment breakthrough for the toy and [videogame] industries” by Activision itself, Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure will make use of the ‘Portal of Power’ to transport real toys into the game’s virtual world.

A line of Spyro action figures will be released alongside the launch of the videogame featuring over 30 characters from the world of Spyro, and while playing the game you’ll be able to place an action figure on a provided stand, or ‘portal,’ and that character will appear in-game, complete with the ability to control it.

As you make use of that character in the game, you’ll level it up and improve its abilities and statistics, but these improvements won’t be limited to your own game. The action figure will record your progress in memory, allowing you to take that toy to someone else’s game with all of the accumulated stats in tact.

The functionality can be used in connection with multiple gaming platforms, including handheld gaming devices, mobile devices and on the web, which means you’ll be able to take your action figures and use their abilities wherever you go.

“This marks a wholesale change in the interaction between toys and video games,” reads a press release, “opening up new possibilities and revenue streams for both industries.” I’m inclined to agree.

Currently in development at internal Activision studio Toys For Bob, Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure is scheduled for release late this year, and will task you with taking on the role of “a powerful Portal Master, who can control over 30 different characters, including the beloved purple dragon Spyro.”

“Each of these heroes is a protector of an amazing, mysterious world, but they have been ejected from their world by the sinister Portal Master known as Kaos and now they are frozen in our world as toys.

“Only the players of Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure can get them back into their world, by embarking on a fantastical journey where they will explore mythical lands, battle menacing, outlandish creatures, collect treasures, and solve challenging puzzles as a part of the quest to save their world.”

In case you needed a little more convincing about the mixing of augmented reality toys and videogames, here are a couple interesting bulletpoints related to Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure (with a host of debut screenshots included below, and a demonstration video over here):

• Each Character Has its Own Unique Powers – In addition to the highly collectible design and personalities of the toys themselves, each character has different powers and abilities, opening different experiences inside the game. Players can drop in and out of each level with as many different characters as they like, making each players experience unique.

• Toys With Brains – Each toy/character remembers the player’s shared experiences. Achievements and leveled up capabilities earned in the game are embedded inside the toy and travel with the toy. Wherever the toy goes, its experiences go with it.

• Portal of Power – The Portal of Power serves as the gateway between our world and the amazing world of the characters in Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure.

• Play With Friends – By placing two characters on the Portal of Power at once, players can team up together for cooperative play, or face off in player versus player battle arenas utilizing their leveled up characters.

• Diverse Experiences on Diverse Devices – While the toys can be used with gaming consoles to play the disc based game, completely different gaming experiences await them on the mobile app and inside the Web World, each of which were designed specifically for those platforms. The result is a remarkable number of different gaming experiences in one game.