To expand beyond console-based games, first production will be -"Skylanders Academy
Activision Blizzard Inc has launched a film and TV studio to create original content based on its popular videogame franchises such as -"Call of Duty-" and -"Hearthstone-" in its latest push to expand beyond console-based games. Activision Blizzard Studios' first production will be -"Skylanders Academy,-" an animated TV series based on the company's toys-to-life videogame -"Skylanders-", the company said in a statement.
A -"near-term-" project for the videogame maker's film and TV studio will be to develop a movie franchise based on the hugely successful military first-person shooter -"Call of Duty-". The company said it would also consider adapting the franchise for TV.
-"Warcraft-", Activision's other well-known game franchise, is already being made into a film through a partnership between its Blizzard Entertainment unit and Legendary Pictures, and is slated for a 2016 release.
Activision said last month it would start an e-sports division to tap into the fast-growing competitive gaming market, where gamers play against each other for prize money. Earlier this week, Activision agreed to buy -"Candy Crush-" creator King Digital Entertainment Plc for $5.9 billion to sharpen its focus on mobile games.
Activision's highly anticipated -"Call of Duty: Black Ops III-" game went on sale earlier on Friday.
