Microsoft Activision Targets AA Games from AAA IPs

Microsoft and Activision to Focus on 'AA' Games

King Employees to Power Smaller Blizzard Titles

Microsoft and Activision have established a new team within Blizzard, primarily composed of King employees, following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023. This strategic move grants Microsoft access to a rich portfolio of popular game IPs, including Diablo and World of Warcraft. According to Jez Corden of Windows Central, the team's mission is to develop AA games, which are smaller in scope and budget compared to AAA titles. Given King's success with mobile games like Candy Crush and Farm Heroes, it's speculated that this new team will concentrate on creating mobile versions of Blizzard's renowned franchises.

King has prior experience in developing mobile games based on existing IPs, such as the now-discontinued Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! and the announced but still unclear Call of Duty mobile game. This experience positions them well to leverage Blizzard's IPs for new mobile AA titles.

Microsoft Aims to Strengthen Their Mobile Presence

During Gamescom 2023, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer highlighted the importance of mobile gaming in Xbox's growth strategy. He emphasized that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard was driven by the desire to enhance Microsoft's mobile capabilities, stating, "The reason we’re in the acquisition discussion with Activision Blizzard King is around their mobile capability because it’s just something we don’t have… We obviously already have Call of Duty on our platform; we already have Diablo on our platform. So it’s not about new games that Xbox players don’t have access to today. It is about a capability on mobile, and some broader ambitions that we have on the largest gaming platform, which is mobile phones."

To further bolster their gaming presence, Microsoft is developing a mobile store to compete with Apple and Google. While details are scarce, Spencer hinted at CCXP 2023 that the launch is expected sooner rather than "multiple years away."

As the costs of AAA game development continue to rise, Microsoft is exploring innovative approaches. According to Jez Corden, the company is experimenting with smaller teams within its larger structure to adapt to these changes. The formation of this new team has sparked speculation among fans about potential projects. These could include scaled-down versions of popular franchises like World of Warcraft, similar to League of Legends' mobile counterpart, Wildrift, or a mobile version of Overwatch akin to Apex Legends Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile.