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Activision Blizzard Lays Out 2016 Release Plans
In addition to a new Destiny expansion dropping at some point in 2016, Activision Blizzard laid out a number of key releases for the year. Unsurprisingly, Call of Duty and Skylanders are getting new installments this year.
Call of Duty will be handled by Infinity Ward. No specifics beyond that were announced, and it’s not yet known if the Ghosts branch will be abandoned or expanded.
Skylanders will be getting a new edition this year. Toys for Bob, the studio that pioneered the franchise and genre, is at the helm.
Blizzard is launching Overwatch this spring on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The Nova-focused expansion pack for Starcraft II will also drop in the spring. World of Warcraft’s next expansion, Legion, will drop sometime this summer to keep it close to the June movie launch.
The roster doesn’t include Activision’s third-party development relationships. We know that Platinum is working on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game and there have been rumors of a Ghostbusters title. There is also a Skylanders digital collectible card game on the way.
These new releases complement existing service-based titles. Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm will continue to receive updates through the year.
[Source: Activision]
Our Take
There aren’t any surprises in Activision’s roster at this point, but that’s part of the reason the company’s finances are so stable. Tentpole titles, service-based add-ons, and a smattering of third-party licensed games are a good mix for a publisher that is in the midst of rapid growth into eSports and mobile due to the two major acquisitions of MLG and King.
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