While Disney is known for being big, it might be getting just a little bit bigger. After a deal earlier this year with Epic Games, Disney has primed itself to start creating larger presence in the video game world. Considering their current success with Marvel games like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, further expansion of a successful medium might make sense. In preparations for the effects of this deal, Disney has announced some changes to their games leadership team according to Hollywood Reporter. First is Sean Shoptaw who has been promoted to executive vice president for the company’s games division. Next is Jay Ong, former Marvel Games team leader, is now head of the global games licensing division. He will be succeeded by Haluk Mentes. As for new additions, two industry veterans have been hired: Ray Gresko, who previously worked at Blizzard Entertainment, and Bjorn Tornqvist, who worked at Ubisoft on tech.
Gresko’s previous credits are extensive including Diablo III, Overwatch, and two of the main Starcraft II packs: Wings of Liberty and Legacy of the Void. All of these credits run the gauntlet of video game genres and ideas. Gresko might open new doors or steer Disney’s gaming IPs in a new direction. You can find Gresko’s full list of credits here.
Tornqvist boasts a similar list of credits including Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, parts of the Just Dance series, and some of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. With his new role as Vice President of Games Technology, Tornqvist is bringing a lot of expertise to the role.
This new phase of Disney Games is set to bring about an extended gaming universe, similar to other connected universes that Disney and its assets have created in the past. The partnership between Epic Games and the Walt Disney Group, and the extended team to lead it, Disney Games might be something to keep an eye out for.
If you’re interested in Disney’s newest game project, Star Wars Outlaws got new story trailer and will be launching on August 30th of this year.