Media giant Fox is once again interested in games with FoxNext’s acquisition of Cold Iron Studios. Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, apparently the Murdoch mo…
Media giant Fox is once again interested in games with FoxNext’s acquisition of Cold Iron Studios.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, apparently the Murdoch monolith wants to make games a bigger part of its business — as big as film and television. Bold goals indeed.
What’s more, Cold Iron is going to be working on a brand new Alien title for PC and console. FoxNext didn’t reveal much beyond that, but does say that the company has big things planned for video games.
«FoxNext Games seeks to make games as important a part of Fox’s business as movies and television. Games will be the defining entertainment medium of this century, in our view,» president Aaron Loeb said.
«Cold Iron adds a whole dimension of game development and play to our arsenal: long play-session MMOs targeted to PC and console gamers. The kinds of games Cold Iron develops will enable us to deeply explore the worlds of our franchises, starting with the Alien universe.
«Mobile is an intimate game platform — it’s with you all the time and the games become part of your day. PC and console are immersive platforms that will allow us to transport users into their favourite worlds. It’s an incredibly important skillset and game type to add to our arsenal as we pursue our mission.»
Part of this strategy is Fox attempting to exercise more control over how its IP is handled. In the past, the company has oursourced development to third parties, such as Creative Assembly with Alien: Isolation.
Fox properties have, in our history, made some great console games too — just look at Simpsons: Hit and Run, or Alien: Isolation,» Loeb said.
«When you pair a great team that is deeply passionate about the brand with the creators of that brand, you unlock the greatest possibilities.
«It has less to do with the platform than it does to do with how empowered the developer is to start with the question, ‘What is the best expression of this world as a game?’
«We’ll have more to share about how Cold Iron will be tackling the Alien universe in the future.»
At the end of last year, Disney purchased 21st Century Fox for $52bn .
