Microsoft's newly-acquired Activision team has today announced the opening of a brand-new development studio in Poland. The team, which is confirmed to not be working on Call of Duty, is setting out to build a "state-of-the-art and next-generation gaming experience" at 'Elsewhere Entertainment'.
The studio also seems to be doubling down on narrative experiences, with ex-Uncharted, The Last of Us, Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3 and Destiny developers helping form the team. The plan is for Elsewhere to "craft a franchise with an enduring legacy that resonates far beyond games".
"Built from the ground up, Elsewhere Entertainment is a premier and standalone studio dedicated to establishing an environment that inspires bold and diverse ideas. The team’s underlying mission encourages everyone to explore and collaborate creatively to craft a franchise with an enduring legacy that resonates far beyond games.
The new studio has full access to Activision’s resources and tools as it continues to increase production and development. Elsewhere is opening its search for best-in-class talent from across the industry and around the world to help create a state-of-the-art and next generation gaming experience."
This is an interesting announcement in the wake of Xbox shuttering four Bethesda studios, although we're inclined to suggest that these aren't linked at all - given how huge Activision is and how long it's likely been working to build Elsewhere Entertainment over in Poland.
That's about all we know of this newly-formed studio for now, but it's certainly an intriguing development in a tumultuous year for industry layoffs. Let's hope this new Activision team gets the chance to grow and build the huge franchise that it's clearly been designed to develop.