Activision Opens New Studio Tasked With Creating AAA Story-Driven Franchise

Activision has announced the creation of Elsewhere Entertainment, a new studio that it says will focus on developing a “narrative-driven, genre-defining AAA franchise.”

Warsaw-based Elsewhere Entertainment is Activision’s second Polish studio after Krakow-based Infinity Ward Poland. The studio has been working behind the scenes until now, and this is its first public reveal.

According to the blog post revealing the new studio, the Elsewhere Entertainment team includes “storytelling experts” who have previously worked on franchises such as The Last of Us, Uncharted, The Witcher, Cyberpunk, Destiny, The Division and Far cry. It’s currently recruiting developers in hopes of creating a “cutting-edge, next-generation gaming experience,” which IGN says is not a Call of Duty-related project.

Little is known about Elsewhere Entertainment’s first franchise, although the post mentions that the studio hopes to “create a franchise with a lasting legacy that resonates far beyond the games.” This would seem to indicate a transmedia franchise that would attempt to replicate the success of The Last of Us and Fallout, or perhaps simply create its own theme park.

Until now, Activision was best known for its work on the Call of Duty series, with Crash Bandicoot developer Toys for Bob opting to go independent after acquiring Xbox. In addition to the Crash Bandicoot games, Activision Publishing also released Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Destiny.

The opening of Elsewhere Entertainment stands out in an industry recently rocked by layoffs. Last week, Activision Blizzard’s parent company Microsoft closed several studios, including Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin. Activision Blizzard was also hit with layoffs in early 2024, with Blizzard particularly hard hit.

It’s unclear exactly when Elsewhere Entertainment’s game will be released, although based on existing development timelines, it will likely be a few more years. In the meantime, Activision appears to be preparing to reveal the next Call of Duty during next month’s Xbox Showcase, scheduled for June 9.

Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Do you have any advice? Send him a DM at @the_katbot.