Frontier Developments has signed a partnership with The Walt Disney Company to produce a brand‑new video game that will draw on Disney’s extensive portfolio of intellectual property. Under the terms of the agreement, Frontier will act as the sole financier, developer and publisher of the project, applying the studio’s deep‑rooted know‑how in the creative‑management simulation (CMS) genre to bring the Disney universe to life in an interactive format.
The Cambridge‑based developer is best known for its award‑winning simulation franchises such as Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo and Jurassic World Evolution, each of which has set benchmarks for player‑driven creativity and detailed management mechanics. In addition to these well‑established series, Frontier is also working on a yet‑to‑be‑revealed Planet title that will be built around its own original intellectual property.
The new Disney‑themed game will join this growing portfolio, further cementing Frontier’s reputation as a leading creator of sandbox‑style management experiences. "We are thrilled to announce this collaboration with Disney," said Jo Cooke, Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Developments. "It aligns perfectly with our clearly articulated strategy of cultivating world‑class creative‑management simulation franchises.
By partnering with one of the most beloved and globally recognised brands, we can offer our community of creators a fresh canvas on which to build, design and share their ideas. I am eager to see the extraordinary experiences our talented teams will craft with this remarkable opportunity." The partnership comes at a time when Frontier is enjoying a period of strong financial performance. The company recently disclosed that its most recent fiscal year delivered the second‑highest revenue in its history, with total sales climbing 16 percent to £104.8 million.
Operating profit surged 44 percent to £19 million, surpassing the previous record of £15.9 million set in FY29. Frontier attributes this impressive growth to its strategic emphasis on CMS titles, which now represent roughly 90 percent of the firm’s revenue for FY26. Frontier’s pivot toward the creative‑management simulation market began in 2023, when the leadership team concluded that the genre offered more reliable and higher‑margin returns compared with other types of games.
Since then, the studio has adopted a disciplined release cadence, aiming to launch one flagship CMS title each year. This approach is designed to nurture long‑term, sustainable growth by building evergreen franchises that keep players engaged over extended periods. The upcoming Disney‑based game is expected to follow the same design philosophy that has made Frontier’s previous titles successful: deep, intuitive tools that empower players to design, customise and manage their own virtual worlds, combined with robust simulation mechanics that reward strategic thinking and creativity. While the exact Disney IP that will be featured has not been disclosed, the partnership opens the door to a wide range of possibilities, from classic animated characters and theme‑park attractions to newer franchises that could benefit from a sandbox treatment.
Industry analysts predict that the combination of Frontier’s proven CMS expertise and Disney’s powerful brand equity could generate a product that appeals to both hardcore simulation enthusiasts and casual fans of Disney’s storytelling. The game is likely to include features such as modular building components, detailed visual editors, and social sharing tools that let players showcase their creations to a global audience.
Moreover, Frontier’s experience with live‑service updates and community‑driven content could ensure that the title remains fresh and engaging long after its initial launch. From a business perspective, the deal also illustrates Frontier’s commitment to expanding its portfolio beyond its own IP while still maintaining control over the development pipeline. By self‑publishing, the studio retains full creative authority and a larger share of the revenue, which aligns with its goal of delivering high‑quality, evergreen experiences that generate steady cash flow.
In summary, Frontier Developments’ new collaboration with Disney marks a significant milestone for the studio’s growth strategy. Leveraging its track record in the creative‑management simulation arena, Frontier will finance, develop and publish a game that brings Disney’s cherished characters and worlds into a player‑driven, sandbox environment. The venture builds on Frontier’s recent financial successes, its strategic focus on CMS titles, and its ambition to release one major simulation game per year, all while fostering sustainable, long‑term growth through beloved, high‑quality franchises.