Microsoft and Activision Eye AAA IPs for Future AA Games

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

A newly formed Blizzard team, primarily composed of King employees, is poised to develop smaller-scale, AA games based on established franchises. This strategic move follows Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023, granting access to a wealth of popular IPs. Learn more about Microsoft's strategy and potential projects.

Leveraging King's Mobile Expertise

According to Windows Central's Jez Corden, this initiative aims to create AA titles—games with smaller budgets and scopes than AAA releases—for mobile platforms. King's proven success with mobile hits like Candy Crush and Farm Heroes makes this focus highly probable. King's past experience with IP-based mobile games, such as the now-discontinued Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! and the still-in-development (though details are scarce) Call of Duty mobile game, further supports this theory.

Microsoft's Mobile Ambitions

Microsoft's commitment to mobile gaming is undeniable. At Gamescom 2023, Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, highlighted mobile's crucial role in Xbox's growth strategy, citing it as the key driver behind the Activision Blizzard King acquisition. Spencer emphasized that the acquisition wasn't about bringing existing games to new platforms, but rather about gaining mobile development capabilities. This is further underscored by Microsoft's development of a competing mobile app store, anticipated to launch sooner than expected, as hinted at during CCXP 2023.

A New Approach to Game Development

The rising costs of AAA game development have prompted Microsoft to explore alternative strategies. The creation of this new, smaller team reflects this shift, allowing for experimentation and potentially more efficient development cycles. While specific projects remain confidential, speculation abounds, with possibilities including mobile adaptations 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.