Blizzard Forms New Team to Create Smaller AA Games from Existing IP

Live Posted 2024/08/10 at 10:39 PM by Archimtiros

reported by Windows Centralthree-pronged approach

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft Q4 2024 Earning's Report

For us, our investment in gaming fundamentally was to have, I would say, the right portfolio of both what we love about gaming and always have loved about gaming — which is Xbox, and the content for the console, and expand from there so that we have content for everywhere people play games, starting with the PC.
more new products in development than ever beforeDiablo ImmortalWarcraft Rumbleill-fated survival game

"In terms of Blizzard's approach to mobile gaming, many of us over the last few years have shifted from playing primarily desktop to playing many hours on mobile, and we have many of our best developers now working on new mobile titles across all of our IPs. Some of them are with external partners, like Diablo: Immortal; many of them are being developed internally only, and we'll have information to share on those in the future. I will say also that we have more new products in development today at Blizzard than we've ever had in our history and our future is very bright."

simultaneously working on three expansionsClassic Season of DiscoveryClassic CataclysmWrath of the Lich King Classic

Windows Central

Sources tell me that Microsoft is keen to explore and experiment finding success out of smaller teams that are also integrated with the larger org, almost Nintendo-style for seamless collaboration. Microsoft and other big publishers are increasingly concerned about the monstrously ballooning costs facing AAA game development, and having studios cross-collaborate more closely is one way Microsoft is exploring reducing costs.
Fireside Chat on Activision's future under Microsoftinterview with the Washington Post

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Comment by TyneicThis is !@#$ing terrible news.

This means that fewer people are gonna release games faster that earn more money, because they're all gonna be Diablo Immortal style Cashgrabs.

This just means that Blizzard is never going to release true games again, as soon as this "new team that creates smaller AA games from existing IPs" earns them enough money to warrant stopping investing resources into actual games.

They've learned from Diablo Immortal. They've learned that pay2win mobile games are more profitable than anything else. And Blizzard Entertainment, the company who sells early access for WoW expansions for 50 bucks, is not gonna let this knowledge be unused. They'll spam the *!@# out of garbage cashgrab mobile games.

Good for everyone who bought stocks, bad for everyone who wants to play good video games.

RIPComment by st1flerWho the hell has shifted from playing PC -> Mobile. I don't think I have ever installed a single game on any of my phones in the past ~15 years.Comment by PeckNeck6I beg for a HoTS revive, please!Comment by ZamfixWhy would anyone play on mobile over PC given the choice?Comment by ArjisajWhy would anyone play on mobile over PC given the choice?Comment by BeerWolfMobile crap, hard pass... they can go gatcha up the suckers in China.Comment by RaynesZenblizzard never dispappoints. keeping a stable flow of garbage towards usComment by MoldrenWho the hell has shifted from playing PC -> Mobile. I don't think I have ever installed a single game on any of my phones in the past ~15 years.Comment by JinokunWho the hell has shifted from playing PC -> Mobile. I don't think I have ever installed a single game on any of my phones in the past ~15 years.Comment by YortalI was about to say, nice they might be doing what riot is doing these days. Then I saw that :
we have many of our best developers now working on new mobile titles across all of our IPsComment by pawpurrmany of us over the last few years have shifted from playing primarily desktop to playing many hours on mobileComment by JanDeGroteStarCraft: GhostComment by cpuriDon't you have phones?Comment by ArexithSmall indie company creates even smaller indie company ! It's ridiculous...Comment by lovelywazThis gonna cost us at least one raid tier every single expansion and even tho I haven't raided in years, I am still mad as hell. 😠😡😤

/s ... Just in case. 🤫Comment by dewdis that what we call mobile games now?Comment by ShadrazaarI honestly think that's a good thing. I don't know, could beComment by Raynurumaybe they should create a new World of WarCraft LORE Team instead..and re-release Volume 4
reprints are thing Blizzard..even for you.Comment by RaynuruWhy would anyone play on mobile over PC given the choice?Comment by NatakutdhStarCraft: Ghost

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