Frontier Developments, the Cambridge‑based developer best known for hits such as Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo and Jurassic World Evolution, has signed a partnership agreement with The Walt Disney Company to produce a brand‑new video game built around Disney’s extensive portfolio of intellectual property. Under the terms of the deal, Frontier will act as the sole financier, developer and publisher of the project, drawing on its deep‑rooted experience in the creative‑management simulation (CMS) genre to bring Disney’s beloved characters and worlds to life in an interactive format. The announcement marks a significant milestone for both parties.
For Disney, it provides an opportunity to extend its iconic franchises into a genre that encourages player creativity, strategic planning and long‑term engagement. For Frontier, the collaboration aligns perfectly with the studio’s strategic focus on CMS titles, a direction the company formally adopted in 2023 after recognizing that these games deliver more reliable and higher‑margin returns than many other segments of the gaming market.
"We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Disney, which reinforces the clear strategic path we have set for ourselves – building and nurturing world‑class creative‑management simulation franchises," said Jo Cooke, Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Developments. "Our aim with this new title is to unite a passionate community of creators with one of the most recognizable and cherished brands on the planet. I am eager to see what our talented teams will achieve with this extraordinary opportunity." The forthcoming Disney‑themed CMS game will likely follow the design principles that have made Frontier’s previous titles successful: deep, sandbox‑style building tools, intricate systems for managing resources and staff, and a strong emphasis on player‑driven storytelling.
While specific details about the game’s setting, mechanics, and which Disney properties will be featured remain under wraps, industry observers anticipate that the studio may draw from a broad spectrum of Disney’s catalog, ranging from classic animated films to newer acquisitions such as Marvel and Star Wars, to give players a rich palette of creative options. Frontier’s recent financial performance underscores why the company is in a strong position to embark on such an ambitious project. In its latest fiscal year, the studio reported its second‑highest annual revenue on record, with earnings climbing 16 percent to £104.8 million.
Operating profit surged 44 percent to £19 million, surpassing the previous peak of £15.9 million recorded in FY29. The company attributes much of this growth to its "strategic focus" on CMS games, which now account for roughly 90 percent of its total revenue for FY26. The shift toward a CMS‑centric portfolio began in earnest in 2023, when Frontier’s leadership concluded that the genre offered stronger, more predictable cash flows compared with other types of games.
This strategic pivot has been reinforced by a clear operational mantra: deliver one high‑quality CMS title each year while cultivating long‑term, sustainable growth through evergreen franchises that keep players engaged for years, if not decades. In addition to the Disney collaboration, Frontier is also working on an as‑yet‑unnamed Planet franchise entry based on its own intellectual property, indicating that the studio is committed to expanding both licensed and original CMS experiences. The dual approach allows Frontier to leverage the massive brand equity of Disney while simultaneously building its own proprietary universes, creating a diversified pipeline that mitigates risk and maximizes creative freedom. From a market perspective, the partnership could have far‑reaching implications.
Disney has historically partnered with a variety of developers for games across multiple platforms, but a deep, long‑term collaboration focused on a CMS title is relatively rare. By entrusting Frontier with full development and publishing responsibilities, Disney signals confidence in the studio’s ability to manage both the creative and commercial aspects of a high‑profile project. For players, the news promises an exciting new way to interact with Disney’s beloved characters and settings. Unlike traditional action‑oriented Disney games, a CMS title will likely empower players to design their own parks, zoos, or adventure worlds, manage staff, curate attractions, and shape narratives that reflect their personal vision.
This level of agency aligns well with contemporary gaming trends that favor player agency, community sharing, and ongoing content updates. Looking ahead, Frontier’s roadmap suggests that the Disney‑themed game could be slated for release within the next two to three years, allowing sufficient time for development, testing, and marketing. The studio’s commitment to delivering a single CMS title per annum implies that the Disney project will receive focused resources and attention, ensuring a polished final product that meets the high expectations associated with both Frontier’s brand and Disney’s legacy. In summary, Frontier Developments’ agreement with Disney represents a strategic convergence of two industry powerhouses: a developer with a proven track record in creative‑management simulations and a media giant with an unparalleled library of beloved characters and stories.
Backed by strong recent financial results and a clear, CMS‑first strategy, Frontier is well‑positioned to create a game that not only delights fans of Disney but also expands the possibilities of the simulation genre. The collaboration stands as a testament to the growing importance of long‑term, high‑quality franchise development in the modern gaming landscape.