Victorian video games developer PlaySide Studios has forged a new contract with Activision Blizzard.
The contract is a ten-month co-development deal “on an existing major title”.
Blizzard just announced it would be releasing its first-ever World of Warcraft mobile title this year, which is a hot bet for why the Aussie team was brought on board.
Playside formed in 2011 out of the ashes of EA’s Visceral Melbourne studio. Ex-employee Gerry Sakkas founded an independent studio, and brought four of his EA colleagues with him.
Since then, they have worked on titles for Disney, Pixar, Nickelodeon and Warner Bros. Last November, they scored an eight-figure deal with Take Two subsidiary 2K Games.
Given this contract lasts under a year, the Aussie development company probably won’t be embroiled in Microsoft’s A$96 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard, given how much regulatory tape it will be dragged through.
“PlaySide is very excited to be working with Activision Blizzard showcasing our AAA game development capabilities and this agreement is further recognition of the progress the company has made on the global stage,” PlaySide chief executive Gerry Sakkas says.
The company is valued on the ASX at $177 million, trading at $1.20.