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Disney Infinity might make its way to Microsoft's HoloLens
It's only natural for an entertainment corporation as massive as The Walt Disney Company, with IP holdings that span the likes of Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, to be exploring the potential of virtual reality. It's something John Vignocchi, VP of production at Disney Interactive, the division behind toys-to-life platform Disney Infinity, confirmed when we chatted a few weeks back. But when it comes to Infinity, the future focus seems to be weighted more toward augmented reality. "We've had multiple meetings and discussions with Oculus, multiple meetings and discussions with Sony about Morpheus, multiple meetings and discussions with Microsoft about HoloLens. We're very interested in that space," Vignocchi said. "There's the socialization problem right now with VR, but augmented reality is very exciting."
Disney Infinity 2.0 swings to Vita in May with special Spider-Man
Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes will arrive on PlayStation Vita in May 2015, Avalanche Software tweeted over the weekend. The Vita version of Disney's latest sandbox game will feature Black Suit Spider-Man, which VP of Production John Vignocchi noted will be exclusive to the Vita's starter pack for the game. The pack will come with a Bluetooth-enabled base and will be compatible with PlayStation TV. The Vita version will be about eight months late to the party, as Disney Infinity 2.0 first launched in September for a number of other platforms: Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U. Disney issued the game as a stand-alone download for returning players last month and confirmed Disney Infinity 2.0 for Vita in June. While Disney Interactive laid off roughly a quarter of its staff in March, the division posted $116 million in annual operating profit in November. [Image: Disney Interactive]
Disney Infinity takes Interactive division into profit and beyond
Disney Interactive posted $116 million in annual operating profit, which is the first time Disney's gaming arm has made a yearly gain under its current setup. The figure represents the division's profit for the fiscal year that ended September 27, 2014, underlining the impact of Disney Infinity and its array of collectible figures since launching in August 2013. It's not all been plain sailing for Disney Interactive this year, after the division reportedly laid off around 700 employees in March 2014, roughly a quarter of its staff. Disney Interactive President James Pitaro said at the time, "These are large-scale changes as we focus not just on getting to profitability but sustained profitability and scalability." A month later, Pitaro revealed Disney Infinity had notched 3 million starter pack sales and an estimated $500 million in revenue. The game's follow-up, Disney Infinity: 2.0 Edition, launched with a Marvel-boosted line-up in mid-September. In its financial statement, Disney said the sequel's shorter window ahead of the fiscal results "partially offset" the Interactive division's Q4 profit of $18 million, which was still up from the previous year's figure of $16 million.
Disney Infinity's Toy Box 2.0 offered as standalone download
When Disney formally unveiled Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes in April, the publisher announced that the power discs and base from the first game would be compatible with the one slated to arrive next week. Instead of buying a starter pack for Disney Infinity 2.0 with a new base, returning players will have the option to download the new game's Toy Box mode separately starting on November 4. The Toy Box mode has improved since the first game, offering options for procedurally generated content and themed templates. Priced at $19.99, the standalone Disney Infinity Toy Box 2.0 game will be available for PS4, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U players. The developer opted for a November release date to time the digital launch with its physical 2.0 Edition Play Sets as well as the game's Disney Originals series. North American players that download Toy Box 2.0 will receive both the Stitch's Tropical Rescue and Brave Forest Siege game discs for free, with details on the limited-time offer on the way from Disney Interactive as November approaches. Disney Infinity 2.0 launches September 23 for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U. [Image: Disney Interactive]
Upgrade Disney Infinity Wii to Wii U free of charge
Still on the fence about buying a Wii U? Disney Interactive is offering a new reason to move to Nintendo's latest home console by allowing Disney Infinity players on Wii to upgrade to the Wii U version free of charge. Beginning today, those that own the Disney Infinity Starter Pack on Wii can download the Wii U version of the sandbox game from the eShop, including the game's multiplayer components. The offer arrives just in time for the next game in the series, Disney Infinity 2.0, which stars Marvel's super heroes when it launches on September 23. The upgrade deal also makes sense for the publisher, as Disney Interactive would certainly love for the series' sizable fanbase on Wii to make the trek to Wii U, given that Disney Infinity 2.0 won't be available on Wii. [Image: Disney Interactive]
Disney Interactive marvels at a revenue surge in Q3 2014
Disney Interactive, the gaming arm of Disney's multi-appendaged corporate beast, is performing better than last year in the company's third quarter of 2014. Revenue for the Interactive business is up 45 percent to $266 million, while operating income is up from a $58 million loss last year to a $29 million surplus this year. "The increase in game sales was driven by Disney Infinity, which was released in the fourth quarter of the prior year, and the success of the Tsum Tsum and Frozen Free Fall mobile games," Disney's Q3 financial statement reads. "The decrease in product development costs was due to fewer titles in development and the benefit of restructuring activities." The Interactive division is the smallest revenue-generator at Disney again this quarter, outpaced by media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment (films), and consumer products. Overall revenue is up 8 percent in Q3 to $12.5 billion. This quarter's results set records at Disney. "We're extremely pleased with these results and we are also thrilled with the spectacular performance of Guardians of the Galaxy, which holds great promise as a new franchise for our company and once again reinforces the tremendous value of Marvel," The Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger says. Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes 2.0 Edition hits shelves on September 23 in North America, now with 100 percent more Guardians of the Galaxy. [Image: Disney]
Pre-order Disney Infinity Marvel Super Heroes, get a free hero at select retailers
There are a lot of character figurines for Disney Infinity, and we imagine it will be the same story with Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes. At least Infinity fans can save some cash by picking up Marvel Super Heroes through the right store: In exchange for pre-ordering the $74.99 Starter Pack, select retailers in both the UK and the US are offering one free Super Marvel Heroes figurine to help grow hero-filled collections. While GAME's listing states that customers can choose between Nick Fury, Hawkeye or Iron Fist as their freebie, GameStop's offer references a "14.99 value" rather than specific characters. We contacted GameStop to ask which heroes would be offered as a pre-order bonus, but that has yet to be announced. Still, if you already plan on adding Marvel to your virtual Disney sandbox, a mystery freebie probably won't hurt you. Besides, what if it's an Avenger? You're not going to be the one that splits up the Avengers, are you? [Image: Disney]
Disney Infinity Toy Box Summit to challenge creators in August
For many of us, imagined adventures with toys are short-lived and typically concluded with 20-minute, WWE-esque brawls between TMNT's Raphael, G.I. Joe and Fashion Model Barbie. The more creative types among us have a knack for crafting tales from a box of ho-hum, mismatched toys, and we imagine they're the sort of people Disney will bring to its Toy Box Summit. Hosted by Disney Infinity developer Avalanche Software, the Toy Box Summit will run August 15-17 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and host a competition between the highest-rated content makers from Infinity's create-an-adventure Toy Box mode. The best work showcased at the Summit will be "leveraged" during the launch of Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes. Those that aren't directly invited aren't totally shut out from the event though – Disney will also run a video contest challenging fans to showcase their favorite Disney movie through Infinity's Toy Box mode. Contest Fan Kits will be distributed to participants, and though it's unclear how entrants obtain them, they will include "approved music, graphics, and game capture tutorials." Three winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to join the Toy Box Summit, with 10 runners up getting a consolatory Captain America figurine for Marvel Super Heroes. Interested directors will submit videos to the Disney Infinity website, but the site's related post for the Toy Box Summit states that more will be revealed about the competition "in the coming weeks." In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to brainstorm pitches for your envisioned hybrid of Disney characters with the WWE universe. [Image: Disney]
Disney Infinity 2.0 Collector's Edition exclusive to PlayStation
Want to SMASH it up as the Hulk in Disney Infinity 2.0? He and his fellow Avengers will appear in a special Collector's Edition that will be exclusive to PS4, Sony announced during their E3 2014 press conference. While Hulk and co. will be available for other platforms, grabbing the Collector's Edition will be the only way to play as the big green machine earlier than everyone else. Make your friends green with envy! The game, developed by Avalanche Studios, is set to hit store shelves and collectors' shelves alike this fall.
Maleficent finally gets invited to something: Disney Infinity 2.0
Disney's drag-and-drop sandbox has cordially invited Maleficent to the next shindig in Disney Infinity 2.0 Edition. The announcement ties to this weekend's opening of Maleficent, a new fairytale film in which a horned Angelina Jolie puts at least one person to sleep. The villainous mistress that sullied Sleeping Beauty's christening joins a wide range of Disney characters in Disney Infinity, including that super-heroic bunch from the Marvel universe. And just like The Avengers, Maleficent comes in the form of a physical toy to be placed on a special base, which seemingly teleports her right into the game. Disney Interactive also used a Wednesday night preview of Maleficent in San Francisco to show off Princess Merida of DunBroch, the bold archer from Pixar's Brave. She'll join Disney Infinity, having been picked as a favorite in social polls. Merida's archery and Maleficent's magic will both be available in the Toy Box mode of Disney Infinity 2.0 Edition, coming to PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo platforms this fall. [Image: Disney]
Disney Infinity keeps Interactive division in a whole new profitable world
"To Disney Infinity and beyond!" must be the mantra at Disney Interactive, which enjoyed a second profitable quarter thanks to the game. Disney's Interactive division saw revenues increase 38 percent during the second quarter, with operating income of $14 million, compared to a $54 million loss last year. Disney stated the company's game business grew "driven by the strength of Disney Infinity" and growth in Japanese mobile market. It should be noted that this profit comes at the cost of a high body count, nearly 26 percent of staff and a 50 percent reduction in game development announced in the first quarter. Disney Infinity has sold over 3 million starter packs and "an estimated $500 million in global retail sales to date," according Disney Interactive President Jimmy Pitaro. Disney Infinity 2.0 is expected to launch this September.
Disney Infinity 2.0 out in September, says official webcast
Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes is soaring onto shelves in September, according to an official weekly webcast. At the 8:28 mark in the video, Executive Producer John Vignocchi says, "Definitely check out all the Avengers that are going to be part of the 2.0 edition of Disney Infinity out this September." Now, pinches of salt at the ready, because official announcements from earlier in the week only noted a fall window, and nothing more specific than that. Also, when Disney's official fan club let slip of the news a bit early, it noted an August launch, not September - that was all swiftly retracted ahead of the announcement proper. Finally, when we reached out to Disney a UK PR representative reiterated a fall window. If September is accurate, however, it means Disney Infinity 2.0 gets the jump on the new Skylanders, which is due to hit North America on October 5 and Europe on October 10. As for Disney's own magic box that turns plastic into gold, Infinity 2.0 calls on characters from Marvel's huge roster of heroes. The new characters include Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Iron Man, and promises of plenty more besides. The new game also brings expanded worlds for the heroes to fly around in, and a deeper Toy Box to sink time into. All the additions and expansions won't prevent returning players from using characters, power discs and Toy Box saves from the original game, because they'll all be compatible with Infinty 2.0. [Thanks, Tim!]
Disney Infinity has sold more than 3 million starter packs
At an event revealing Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes, Disney announced it has sold more than 3 million units of the original Disney Infinity. Disney Interactive President Jimmy Pitaro noted that the Disney Infinity franchise has now netted "an estimated $500 million in global retail sales to date." Citing NPD data, Pitaro says that Disney Infinity has "outperformed" its competition "in terms of total sales revenue." Disney Infinity first launched in August 2013 and is currently available on Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Wii U, 3DS and iOS. Pitaro also revealed that more than ten million Toy Boxes, Disney Infinity's player-created environments, have been downloaded. Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes will arrive this fall for previous generation platforms, as well as Xbox One and PS4.
Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes coming this fall; PS4 and Xbox One joining the fight
Update: Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes will launch for previous generation systems as well as PS4 and Xbox One this fall. Watch the trailer above. Original Story: Live in Los Angeles, Disney has announced the next adventure for its popular Infinity franchise. Leveraging its Marvel series, Disney will inject its superheroes into a new release later this year. Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes will launch this fall. When originally and accidentally revealed earlier this month, Disney noted the Marvel Super Heroes refresh to Disney Infinity would arrive in August. Disney quickly backtracked on the announcement, saying its D23 club "erroneously reported about the launch of the next chapter of Disney Infinity."
Disney Infinity 2.0 arrives this August with Marvel heroes [Update]
Update: D23 has since posted a correction, noting it "erroneously reported about the launch of the next chapter of Disney Infinity" and that the information it provided was incorrect. It added that further information on the future of the series will be revealed on April 30. Original story: Disney Infinity 2.0 is slated to launch this August, according to a since-removed snippet from Disney's official fan club site, D23. While the D23 blog entry in question is still available to view, a cached version of it notes that the Disney Infinity follow-up "is coming in August 2014, and a teaser trailer can be viewed at Marvel.com," likely referencing the teaser posted by Marvel earlier this month. "The teaser promises such Marvel-ous additions to the game as familiar Marvel characters, objects, and vehicles-the possibilities are infinite," the site continued. The previous sandbox-style adventure game from Avalanche Software did wonders for Disney Interactive, driving its revenue to $403 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2014. The company also saw losses in Q2 2013 and Q3 2013 to the tune of $54 million and $58 million, respectively. That led to layoffs in its games and Internet divisions in March that numbered 700, at which point Disney said it plans to scale back annual game output "by as much as 50 percent." We've reached out to Disney to confirm the release window for Disney Infinity 2.0 and will update as we learn more. [Image: Disney]
Marvel superheroes to join Disney Infinity
After years of superhero films from Marvel Studios igniting the box office, it was inevitable that Disney would add Marvel's characters to open-world license mashup Disney Infinity. The game, which drops players into a sandbox-style environment populated with famous faces from throughout Disney's vast catalogue of lucrative characters, has long been a suspected destination for Marvel's heroes. In February, we reported on layoffs at Disney Infinity developer Disney Interactive, at which time the Wall Street Journal claimed that Marvel characters would join Disney Infinity in a "new version" of the game. Presumably that explains the "2.0" designation at the end of the above trailer, though so far we've found no further information on what might also be included in this new incarnation of Disney Infinity. There's no word on when Marvel's heroes might join Disney Infinity, nor word on which heroes will make the cut. Given the title of the video, "Get Ready To Assemble," we think the Avengers will be a safe bet, but otherwise we're in the dark. When contacted, neither Disney nor Marvel had anything further to add. [Image: Disney]
GameStop celebrates Disney Infinity Day with price drops, Phineas and Ferb debut
Saturday, March 15, is Disney Infinity Day at GameStop, and the retailer plans to celebrate with a round of price drops accompanying the debut of the game's final two playable character figurines. Disney Infinity's Phineas and Ferb Toy Box Set will be available exclusively at GameStop this Saturday, introducing Phineas and Agent P as playable characters and adding series-themed items, buildings, and backgrounds to the game's sandbox-style Toy Box component. A wider retail release for the set and individual figurines will follow on April 1. Customers who purchase the Phineas and Ferb Toy Box Set at GameStop this weekend will receive a code for a downloadable Phineas and Ferb mini-comic, along with a free Disney Infinity poster, while supplies last. Disney Infinity fans will also get the chance to complete their collections for cheap, as GameStop is offering a buy two get one free sale on individual character packs, along with a 50 percent discount on all play sets and accessories. [Image: Disney / GameStop]
Disney Interactive lays off 700, plans to scale back annual game output [Update]
Disney laid off one-quarter of its global staff in its video games and Internet division, Disney Interactive, The New York Times reported Thursday. The 26 percent decrease in staff amounts to roughly 700 job losses and also points to a change in strategy for the company, which is expected to scale back annual game output "by as much as 50 percent," the report reads. While profits for Disney Interactive rose in Q1 2014 thanks to the success of Disney Infinity, as it reported a 38 percent increase in revenue year-over-year for that period, it also reported losses in Q3 2013 and Q2 2013 to the tune of $58 million and $54 million, respectively. The layoffs also affect the Internet side of the company's interactive division, which will shutter BabyZone.com and Spoonful.com and move towards sponsorship-based advertising for Disney.com as a result. Prospective layoffs for Disney Interactive were numbered in the hundreds according to reports from one month ago. We've reached out to Disney to determine whether today's layoffs are the same ones in question, and will update as we learn more. Update: Disney Interactive responded to Joystiq with the following statement: "Disney Interactive has consolidated several lines of business as part of an effort to focus the division on a streamlined suite of high quality digital products. As a result of this restructuring, we have undergone a reduction in workforce. These actions were difficult but necessary given our long-term strategy focused on sustainable profitability and innovation." [Image: Disney Interactive]
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Disney Infinity drives Interactive group to $403 million in revenue
Disney reported $403 million in revenue for its Interactive group in its fiscal first quarter 2014 financial results, a three-month period that ended on December 28, 2013. It is a 38 percent increase over the revenue earned by the Interactive group in Q1 of 2013, $291 million. The leap in earnings for Disney Interactive is thanks to strong sales for Disney Infinity, Avalanche Software's sandbox adventure game that features popular Disney characters and Skylanders-like physical toys to go with them. Of course, Disney Interactive is just one slice of the Mickey Mouse house's pie; The Walt Disney Company reported $12.3 billion in revenue for the quarter. While everything sounds splendid for Disney, the Wall Street Journal reported layoffs for Disney Interactive that measure in the hundreds just a few days ago. [Image: Disney Interactive]
Report: 'Several hundred' Disney Interactive employees face layoffs
Though Disney Infinity is an undeniable hit, the Wall Street Journal reports "several hundred" employees at developer Disney Interactive are to be laid off later this week. Citing unnamed sources "close to the company," the report claims that these layoffs are "expected to begin after the media giant releases its quarterly financial results Wednesday." The Wall Street Journal offers no concrete motivation for the mass dismissal, though it references a recently announced effort to reorganize Disney Interactive by president Jimmy Pitaro. Intriguingly, the report also mentions Disney Infinity expansions based on Star Wars and Marvel Comics. "New versions of 'Infinity' featuring characters from Disney's Marvel superhero unit and the Star Wars universe it acquired along with Lucasfilm in 2012 are being developed," the Wall Street Journal claims, again citing an unnamed source. While this would be the first confirmation we've seen of such additions to Disney Infinity, it comes as no surprise that Disney Interactive might want to tap those two, wildly profitable licenses for its game. [Image: Disney Interactive]
