Jez Corden: Microsoft and Activision have formed a new team within Blizzard to work on smaller 'AA' games based on existing IP

[John Elden Ring]

From Windows Central: Microsoft and Activision have formed a new team within Blizzard to work on smaller 'AA' games based on existing IP | Windows Central

Our sources indicate that Microsoft and Activision have approved the creation of a new team within its Blizzard subsidiary, comprised mostly with employees from King. Blizzard is known for beloved franchises like Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, and Overwatch, and Microsoft is keen to curate and serve these franchises more prolifically than Activision itself did previously. Military sci-fi strategy series StarCraft for example has essentially been on mothballs since StarCraft Remastered in 2017, and Xbox CEO Phil Spencer himself has name checked StarCraft during interviews about the acquisition in recent years. Still, you need teams to work on these classic franchises, and that's exactly what Microsoft is gearing up to do.

To that end, we're told Microsoft and Activision's new team within Blizzard is tasked to work on "AA" smaller games based on existing franchises within the Blizzard universes. Given King's mobile expertise, it's possible that these will be mobile games aimed to support Xbox's planned mobile gaming store for iOS and Android — although we're not entirely sure that they'll be restricted specifically to mobile. Given Microsoft's platform agnostic strategy across mobile, PC, and console, it's entirely possible that any fresh projects could run across platforms. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently described how it wants Xbox to focus on a three-pronged gaming approach across those endpoints, with Xbox console at its core.

 

[Would_you_kindly]

Was about to post this ... Why the fuck would you get rid of toys for bob if you're going to have a studio to make smaller games absolute morons over there

 

[Shadow2027]

They had Toys for Bob. Seriously wtf hell are they doing

 

[BroodCorp]

Are "mobile" and "AA" interchangeable?

 

[Would_you_kindly]

They had Toys for Bob. Seriously wtf hell are they doing

They still have vicarious visions but they've just been folded into a support studio for cod

 

[Would_you_kindly]

Yeah it sounds like this is just for mobile games tbh not even worth reporting but it's jizz isn't it

 

[GachaMadeMeBroke]

Sounds like what Riot has been doing with LoL

 

[Yurinka]

I have several former coworkers who were at King and in recent days/weeks they changed their LinkedIn description mentioning that they moved to Blizzard.

I don't have any insider info, but all these former coworkers are all experienced on mobile F2P only.

So if I had to guess, I'd bet they'll make mobile focused F2P games using Blizzard IPs, more than the usual console/PC focused titles.

 

[Would_you_kindly]

This morons latched on to it though

 

[voke]

mobile crash and spyro cash ins

 

[Would_you_kindly]

mobile crash and spyro cash ins

They did a mobile crash it wasn't successful lol

 

[peewee78368]

This morons latched on to it though

these the same dudes who get mad at SOny for buying up 3rd party exclusives smaller titles then attack games like rise of ronin and so on for look low budget and cheap yet rise of ronin is still selling its even made NPD top 20 unlike hellblade 2 lol

 

[Cool hand luke]

1 year later: Microsoft shuts down AA studio within Blizzard

 

[Old Gamer]

1 year later: Microsoft shuts down AA studio within Blizzard

You know very well media always covers for MS. The title would be "Blizzard shuts down AA studio".

 

[Cool hand luke]

You know very well media always covers for MS. The title would be "Blizzard shuts down AA studio".

Ah but of course.

I fully expect Ryan Mcaffery to tell us the reason he doesn't mind independent publisher Blizzard shutting down another studio is that Xbox has too many games to play already. On behalf of IGN, of course.

 

[peewee78368]

Ah but of course.

I fully expect Ryan Mcaffery to tell us the reason he doesn't mind independent publisher Blizzard shutting down another studio is that Xbox has too many games to play already. On behalf of IGN, of course.

also dont forget this is the SAME DUDE WHO SAID HE COULD NOT FIND HIS NEW PS5 GAME IN THE TOP SELLING PAGES AT ALL.. Well no shit bro its not top selling so why would it be hahahah

 

[KvallyX]

Was about to post this ... Why the fuck would you get rid of toys for bob if you're going to have a studio to make smaller games absolute morons over there

Toys for Bob left, as they wanted to be independent. What is odd though is they left, but then negotiated a game deal with Xbox Game Studios. I will never understand this business.

Regarding AA, I have been playing and enjoying more AA games lately than AAA games. Helldivers 2, Banishers: Ghost of Eden are the two most recent ones that I have enjoyed.

 

[Monkeyclaw]

Are "mobile" and "AA" interchangeable?

They are synonyms.

 

[Would_you_kindly]

Toys for Bob left, as they wanted to be independent. What is odd though is they left, but then negotiated a game deal with Xbox Game Studios. I will never understand this business.

Regarding AA, I have been playing and enjoying more AA games lately than AAA games. Helldivers 2, Banishers: Ghost of Eden are the two most recent ones that I have enjoyed.

Toys for bob went independent because Microsoft laid off half their employees & was about to shut them down so it was either go independent or get shut down , they made a deal with Microsoft for their next game because Microsoft owns all the IPs they have worked on (crash / spyro / Skylanders / Tony hawk)

 

[KvallyX]

because Microsoft laid off half their employees & was about to shut them down so it was either go independent or get shut down

Ah, ok. I never read that part of the announcement. Thanks for clarifying.