Microsoft and Activision Blizzard's New Strategy: Leveraging King's Expertise for AA Mobile Titles
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard has spurred a new initiative: the creation of a dedicated team within Blizzard, primarily composed of King employees, to develop smaller-scale, AA games based on established franchises. This strategic move aims to capitalize on King's mobile gaming expertise and expand Microsoft's reach in the mobile market.
King's Mobile Game Development Prowess
This new team will focus on creating AA titles, characterized by their smaller scope and budget compared to AAA counterparts. King's proven success with mobile hits like Candy Crush and Farm Heroes makes them ideally suited to lead this endeavor. Their past experience, including the now-discontinued Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! and the still-in-development Call of Duty mobile game (developed by a separate team), demonstrates their capabilities in adapting existing IPs for mobile platforms.
Microsoft's Mobile Ambitions
Microsoft's commitment to mobile gaming is undeniable. Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, highlighted the significance of mobile in Xbox's future growth, emphasizing that the Activision Blizzard acquisition was largely driven by King's mobile expertise. This strategic focus is further underscored by Microsoft's development of a competing mobile app store, anticipated to launch sooner than initially projected.
Addressing the Rising Costs of AAA Development
The increasing costs associated with AAA game development have prompted Microsoft to explore alternative approaches. The formation of this new, smaller team represents an experiment in leveraging existing resources to create high-quality mobile games while mitigating the financial risks associated with large-scale AAA projects.
Speculation and Potential Projects
The creation of this team has ignited speculation among fans regarding potential projects. Scaled-down versions of popular franchises like World of Warcraft, mirroring the success of League of Legends: Wild Rift, are highly anticipated. Similarly, a mobile Overwatch experience, comparable to Apex Legends Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile, could be on the horizon. While details remain scarce, the future of mobile gaming within the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard ecosystem looks promising.
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