Microsoft Plans Affordable AAA

Microsoft and Activision Team Up for Smaller-Scale Games

A new team within Blizzard, primarily composed of King employees, is reportedly focusing on developing AA titles based on existing franchises, according to Windows Central's Jez Corden. This initiative follows Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023, granting access to a wealth of popular IPs.

This strategic move aims to leverage King's mobile gaming expertise to create smaller-scale, more budget-friendly games. The expectation is that these AA titles will primarily target the mobile market. King's past experience with mobile adaptations of existing IPs, such as the now-discontinued Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! and the still-in-development (though its status is uncertain) Call of Duty mobile game, supports this assumption. It's important to note that the existing Call of Duty: Mobile is developed by a separate team.

Microsoft's Mobile Gaming Ambitions

Microsoft's commitment to mobile gaming is clear. At Gamescom 2023, Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, highlighted mobile's crucial role in Xbox's growth strategy, emphasizing it as the key driver behind the Activision Blizzard King acquisition. He clarified that the acquisition wasn't about bringing existing franchises to new platforms, but about gaining mobile development capabilities.

Microsoft's further investment in mobile gaming includes the development of a competing mobile app store to challenge Apple and Google. While details are scarce, Spencer hinted at a relatively near release timeframe at CCXP 2023.

Addressing AAA Development Costs

The high costs of AAA game development are prompting Microsoft to explore alternative approaches. The new team represents an experiment in utilizing smaller teams within its larger structure to tackle this challenge.

Speculation regarding the new team's projects includes scaled-down versions of existing franchises like World of Warcraft, potentially mirroring the success of League of Legends: Wild Rift. A mobile Overwatch experience, similar to Apex Legends Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile, is another possibility. The exact nature of their projects remains undisclosed, fueling fan anticipation.