Blizzard, one of Microsoft’s prized assets following its acquisition of the third-party giant, is reportedly taking steps to expand its game development portfolio. While there is a significant expansion for Diablo IV planned in the coming months, that’s not the only thing on Blizzard’s horizon.

According to Windows Central, Blizzard has formed a small internal team dedicated to creating AA games based on its well-known franchises, such as Diablo, Warcraft, Overwatch, and Starcraft. This initiative aims to produce smaller-scale titles that can provide fresh experiences within these beloved universes.

The new team primarily consists of former employees from King, the studio renowned for its success with Candy Crush. With King’s extensive experience in the mobile gaming market, it’s likely that these upcoming titles might target mobile platforms. This move could also align with Microsoft’s strategy to support its future Xbox storefronts for Android and iOS.

This team reflects the current industry trend towards more agile development processes and controlled costs, a response to the challenging times the gaming industry faces in terms of labor and economics. The resurgence of AA games could bring back the creativity and innovation that these mid-sized projects are known for.

Thanks, Windows Central.