Microsoft and Activision's New Venture: AA Games from AAA IPs

A newly formed Blizzard team, primarily composed of King employees, is focusing on developing smaller-scale, AA games based on established franchises. This initiative follows Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023, granting access to a vast portfolio of popular IPs.

Leveraging King's Mobile Expertise

Jez Corden of Windows Central reports that this new team aims to create AA titles, characterized by their smaller budgets and scope compared to AAA releases. Given King's success with mobile games like Candy Crush and Farm Heroes, it's anticipated that these new projects will primarily target the mobile gaming market.

King's past experience with IP-based mobile games, such as the now-discontinued Crash Bandicoot: On the Run!, and their previously announced (but currently unclear) Call of Duty mobile game, provides a foundation for this new endeavor. This new team is separate from the team developing Call of Duty: Mobile.

Microsoft's Mobile Ambitions

At Gamescom 2023, Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, highlighted the pivotal role of mobile gaming in Xbox's growth strategy. He emphasized that mobile capabilities were a key factor in Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Spencer clarified that the acquisition wasn't solely about bringing new games to Xbox players but about gaining a strong foothold in the mobile market, the largest gaming platform globally.

Microsoft's commitment to mobile extends to the development of its own mobile store, intended to compete with Apple and Google. While details remain scarce, Spencer hinted at a launch timeframe sooner than "multiple years away" at CCXP 2023.

Exploring a New Development Model

The rising costs of AAA game development have prompted Microsoft to explore alternative strategies. This new team represents an experiment with smaller, more agile teams within the larger corporate structure.

Speculation abounds regarding the team's projects. Potential candidates include scaled-down mobile versions of popular franchises like World of Warcraft (similar to League of Legends: Wild Rift) or a mobile Overwatch experience comparable to Apex Legends Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile. The possibilities are exciting for fans.