Frontier Developments Partners With Disney on New Self-Published Game

Cambridge-based studio Frontier Developments has struck a deal with Disney to create and self-publish a new game built around Disney's intellectual property portfolio, Gematsu reported on 3 September 2026.

Frontier will cover all development costs itself rather than operating under a third-party publishing arrangement.

The project sits within the Creative Management Simulation (CMS) genre that has defined Frontier's output in recent years.

Gaming.net noted the deal was filed through RNS, the London Stock Exchange's regulatory news service, on the same day as the studio's press release, with Peel Hunt named as Frontier's nominated adviser and corporate broker.

What the Announcement Does and Doesn't Confirm

No title, specific Disney property, release window, or target platforms were disclosed. The announcement identifies the project only as a new game drawing on Disney's broader IP catalogue.

Frontier holds both developer and publisher responsibilities. That's a notable distinction from a typical licensed game arrangement.

Frontier's CMS Track Record

Jo Cooke, Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Developments, described the deal as consistent with the studio's strategy of building and sustaining CMS franchises.

Cooke said the goal is to bring a community of creative players together with one of the most recognisable brands in the world, and expressed enthusiasm about what the studio's teams will produce with the opportunity, according to Frontier's official announcement.

Frontier's existing CMS catalogue includes the Jurassic World Evolution, Planet Zoo, and Planet Coaster franchises. A separate, currently unannounced Planet title is also in development alongside the Disney project.

A Studio With Disney History

This isn't Frontier's first collaboration with Disney. Gaming.net pointed out that Frontier released Disneyland Adventures in 2011 alongside Microsoft Studios and Disney, a Kinect title that recreated Disneyland in Anaheim as an open-world experience.

The studio's management game history stretches back further, covering RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 with Atari in 2004, the Thrillville series, and Zoo Tycoon for Xbox 360 and Xbox One with Microsoft Studios in 2013.

Frontier has self-published its titles for roughly the past decade.

Company at a Glance

Frontier is listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange and operates from two locations: its Cambridge headquarters and a second studio in Winnipeg, Canada, home to its Complex Games team.

Its wider portfolio extends beyond CMS titles to include Elite Dangerous, the F1 Manager series, and Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters. The studio was founded by David Braben in 1994 and develops its games using its proprietary COBRA technology.

Further details on the Disney project have not been announced.

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