Frontier Developments has secured a partnership with Disney to produce a brand‑new video game that will draw on Disney’s extensive catalogue of intellectual property. Under this agreement, Frontier will assume full responsibility for funding, development, and publishing, applying the deep know‑how it has built in the creative‑management simulation (CMS) arena. Based in Cambridge, Frontier is the creative force behind acclaimed series such as Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo and Jurassic World Evolution, and it is currently working on an as‑yet‑unnamed Planet title that will feature its own original IP.
The new Disney‑themed project will join this impressive portfolio, offering fans a fresh way to interact with beloved characters and worlds through the lens of a management simulation. "We are thrilled to announce this collaboration with Disney, which further reinforces our clearly defined strategy of developing and nurturing world‑class creative management simulation game franchises," said Jo Cooke, CEO of Frontier Developments.
"Our mission with this game is to connect a passionate creative community of players with one of the world's most iconic and beloved brands, and I can't wait to see what our talented teams will create with this amazing opportunity." The announcement comes at a time when Frontier is enjoying strong financial performance. The company recently reported its second‑highest annual revenue to date, with a 16 % increase that lifted total earnings to £104.8 million. Operating profit surged 44 % to £19 million, surpassing the previous record of £15.9 million set in fiscal year 2029.
Frontier attributes this impressive growth to its strategic emphasis on CMS titles, a segment that now accounts for roughly 90 % of its FY26 revenue. Frontier’s pivot toward CMS games began in 2023, when the leadership team concluded that the genre offered "stronger and more predictable returns" compared with other types of releases. This decision has shaped the company’s roadmap: the studio aims to deliver one high‑quality CMS title each year, focusing on evergreen franchises that can sustain long‑term engagement and revenue streams.
By concentrating resources on a single genre, Frontier believes it can maintain a high level of polish, expand community features, and continually add content that keeps players invested over time. The upcoming Disney‑based game is expected to follow the same design philosophy that has made Planet Coaster and Planet Zoo successes. Players will likely be given tools to design, build, and manage attractions or experiences set within iconic Disney settings—think constructing a new fantasy kingdom in the Magic Kingdom, curating a themed adventure in the Star Wars galaxy, or orchestrating a bustling Pixar‑inspired studio.
The CMS framework allows for deep customization, letting users experiment with layout, aesthetics, staffing, and guest satisfaction metrics, all while staying true to the whimsical spirit of Disney. In addition to the core gameplay loop, Frontier plans to integrate robust community features. Past titles have demonstrated the studio’s commitment to user‑generated content, offering robust modding tools, shared parks, and collaborative events.
By extending these capabilities to a Disney‑themed environment, Frontier hopes to foster a vibrant ecosystem where fans can showcase their creativity, exchange ideas, and even monetize their designs through official channels. From a business perspective, the partnership also aligns with Disney’s broader strategy of expanding its digital footprint. Disney has been actively seeking to translate its beloved franchises into interactive experiences, from mobile games to console titles, and this collaboration gives the entertainment giant a trusted development partner with a proven track record.
The synergy between Disney’s rich storytelling assets and Frontier’s simulation expertise could set a new benchmark for licensed games, moving beyond simple tie‑ins to fully realized, player‑driven worlds. Looking ahead, Frontier’s roadmap suggests that the Disney title will be the first of several CMS releases slated for the coming years. The studio’s “one CMS title per year” mantra is designed to ensure that each project receives ample development time, marketing support, and post‑launch content updates.
This disciplined cadence also allows Frontier to iterate on player feedback, refine its tools, and introduce new mechanics that keep each successive game fresh. Overall, the announcement signals a promising next chapter for both Frontier Developments and Disney.
By marrying Frontier’s simulation pedigree with Disney’s timeless characters and settings, the upcoming game promises to deliver a compelling, creative playground for both longtime fans of the studio’s previous work and newcomers drawn by the magic of Disney. As the development progresses, the industry will be watching closely to see how this collaboration shapes the future of creative‑management simulations and licensed gaming experiences alike.