Following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard King, concerns arose regarding potential shifts in King’s game development approach. However, King President Tjodolf Sommestad expressed confidence in the company’s continued independence and focus on mobile gaming.
Sommestad emphasized King’s strong position as the largest mobile developer within Microsoft Gaming, acknowledging the company’s healthy growth trajectory. He believes that mobile gaming remains a vibrant industry despite the recent slowdown in growth rates.
Sommestad also addressed the industry-wide layoffs, attributing them to a period of excessive hiring. He emphasized the importance of talent retention for continued growth. Microsoft’s past missteps in pivoting studios and laying off employees have raised concerns, but Sommestad does not foresee such a scenario for King.
Currently, King remains focused on delivering engaging games to players and establishing relationships with peer studios. Sommestad acknowledged that King’s current portfolio of games may not be suitable for consoles, but he remained open to exploring new ideas and the evolving industry landscape.
