Frontier Developments, the UK-based studio behind creative management simulations such as Planet Coaster, Zoo Tycoon, and Jurassic World Evolution, has announced a new development deal with Disney. Under the agreement, Frontier will self-fund and publish a game that draws from Disney's extensive catalog of intellectual property.
"We are delighted to announce this collaboration with Disney, which further reinforces our clearly defined strategy of developing and nurturing world-class creative management simulation game franchises," said Frontier CEO Jo Cooke in a statement. Cooke added that the studio's mission is to "connect a passionate creative community of players with one of the world's most iconic and beloved brands." Details regarding the game's specific content or gameplay mechanics remain undisclosed, but the announcement has already generated significant excitement among players and industry observers.
Fans are speculating that the partnership could lead to a game allowing players to build and manage their own virtual Disneyland or Walt Disney World, leveraging Frontier's established expertise in theme park simulation. Disney's own leadership has expressed a growing interest in video games as a means to expand its reach.
This is not Disney's first foray into video games. The company has a history of themed titles, including Capcom's 1990 NES game Adventures in the Magic Kingdom, Frontier's own 2011 Kinect title Disneyland Adventures, and the 2016 mobile city-builder Disney Magic Kingdoms. More recently, Disney has seen substantial success in the gaming market, with nine of its franchises achieving over $1 billion in retail revenue. The company has indicated that gaming will play a significant role in its future storytelling strategies.