Activision, Microsoft Reportedly Form New Team to Work on Smaller Games

Activision, Microsoft Reportedly Form New Team to Work on Smaller Games

As a long-time gamer and Xbox enthusiast who has witnessed the ups and downs of console generations, I must say that Microsoft’s new approach to smaller, AA games is a breath of fresh air. Having grown up playing classics like Banjo-Kazooie and Conker’s Bad Fur Day on the original Xbox, it’s heartening to see these beloved franchises being given a second life.


In the previous year, Microsoft finalized its purchase of Activision Blizzard, enlarging the range of Xbox-associated franchises. Now, it seems that Microsoft is exploring means to optimally leverage these franchises, and a fresh studio has emerged within Blizzard with a specific focus on spin-off titles based on StarCraft, Warcraft, Overwatch, and other established brands. However, these games will not be large-scale AAA productions; instead, the new studio is rumored to concentrate on more budget-friendly AA games, as suggested by a Windows Central report.

Currently, it’s uncertain which platforms the newly formed game studio will target, but Windows Central suggests they might focus on mobile games. It appears that this team consists of developers who previously worked for King, a subsidiary of Blizzard Entertainment known for creating popular titles like “Candy Crush”. Interestingly, the report also hints at Microsoft adopting a strategy similar to Nintendo’s, where they collaborate more closely with smaller teams due to the escalating costs and risks associated with AAA game development.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the shift in focus for Xbox towards smaller games, as highlighted by Windows Central. This strategy reminds me a lot of what Nintendo does exceptionally well during the Switch era – consistently delivering first-party exclusives like the upcoming “Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” and “Super Mario Bros. Wonder”, with remasters and AA games filling in the gaps between them.

The current console generation has been a difficult one for the Xbox brand. Xbox Series X|S has struggled to compete with PlayStation and Nintendo, and a lack of exclusive games has been a big part of the problem. While there are a lot of exciting games in the pipeline, there’s simply too long a wait between exclusives. Embracing AA games could not only solve that problem, but it could also result in fewer franchises feeling abandoned. If the AA push extends to all Xbox owned franchises, it could mean that we see new Banjo-Kazooie and Conker’s Bad Fur Day games while we wait on announced AAA titles like Perfect Dark, O.D., and Blade. It’s a nice thought, but it remains to be seen how things will play out over time.

Read More

2024-08-04 22:39