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FoxNext

From Alfawiki
FoxNext, LLC
Company typeDivision
IndustryVirtual reality, theme parks, video games
Founded2017
Founder20th Century Fox
Defunct2020
FateGaming assets sold to Scopely; division absorbed into Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
Headquarters
United States
Key people
Salil Mehta (President until January 23, 2020)
ProductsVirtual and augmented reality content, theme parks, video games
Parent20th Century Fox (until Disney acquisition), then The Walt Disney Company

FoxNext, LLC operated as a division specializing in virtual reality and theme parks under 20th Century Fox, established in 2017 prior to Disney's acquisition of Fox. Functioning within Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, the division was responsible for creating and publishing virtual and augmented reality content as well as overseeing the theme parks affiliated with 20th Century Studios. Salil Mehta, who previously held positions at NBCUniversal and Disney, served as president until January 23, 2020, when the division’s gaming assets were sold to Scopely.

Establishment

FoxNext was launched on January 18, 2017, with Salil Mehta appointed as its president. The division unified Fox Digital Entertainment and the team behind Alien: Isolation, bringing all video game operations under a single entity. Additionally, it assumed control of the 20th Century Fox World theme park initiative from Fox Consumer Products.

On January 19, 2017, FoxNext revealed a slate of VR projects in collaboration with Within VR—co-founded by Chris Milk and Aaron Koblin—including experiences related to Planet of the Apes as well as original works from acclaimed filmmakers. On June 6, 2017, FoxNext expanded by acquiring Aftershock Studios (previously Kabam’s Los Angeles and San Francisco studios), naming Aaron Loeb president of FoxNext Games studios.

Experienced marketing leader James Finn joined as executive vice president and head of marketing on June 1, 2017. Marc Zachary was appointed senior vice president of business development for FoxNext Destinations.

On July 27, 2017, FoxNext Games announced it was developing Marvel Strike Force, an action RPG multiplayer mobile title created in partnership with Marvel Entertainment and Aftershock Studios. The game launched on March 28, 2018, earning $150 million in revenue within its first year.

FoxNext also published games developed by external studios such as Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow (2017) and The X-Files: Deep State (2018). In March 2018, Fogbank Entertainment was established in San Francisco as an independent studio separate from Aftershock Studios.

In January 2018, FoxNext acquired Cold Iron Studios from Perfect World Entertainment. On April 26, 2018, it debuted its inaugural location-based VR attraction “Alien: Descent” at The Outlets at Orange mall in California.

The planned Dubai theme park project was indefinitely delayed in April 2018 due to concerns over market saturation. Later that year, legal disputes arose between Genting Malaysia and FoxNext regarding delays at the Malaysian 20th Century Fox World park; these issues were resolved through an out-of-court settlement in July 2019.

On February 7, 2019, FoxNext introduced an indie development fund aimed at supporting independent game creators; the first title added to this initiative was Altered Matter's Etherborn.

Divestiture to Scopely

Following Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox, FoxNext became part of The Walt Disney Company. In September 2019, Disney announced intentions to either sell or shut down portions of FoxNext. Under CEO Bob Iger, Disney moved away from internal game development after closing Disney Interactive Studios in 2016. By January 2020, Disney sold FoxNext Games—including FoxNext Games Los Angeles, Cold Iron Studios, and Aftershock—to mobile game developer Scopely for an undisclosed amount. Subsequently, Scopely revealed plans to divest Cold Iron Studios, which specializes in console and PC titles. The transaction encompassed most intellectual properties developed by the studios except those owned independently by Fox before Disney’s acquisition. Fogbank Entertainment was shuttered shortly after the sale in January 2020.

Legacy

In 2021, Disney launched 20th Century Games as the dedicated video game division for 20th Century Studios. Unlike FoxNext or Fox Interactive, this new entity does not engage in game publishing but functions as a licensing arm for 20th Century Studios’ intellectual properties, akin to the role of Lucasfilm Games. A significant title originally developed under FoxNext—Aliens: Fireteam Elite—was transferred to 20th Century Games for licensing purposes following Cold Iron’s acquisition by Daybreak Game Company from Scopely.

Assets

  • FoxNext Games
    • FoxNext Games Los Angeles (January 2020; acquired by Scopely)
    • Aftershock (June 2017–January 2020; acquired by Scopely)
    • Cold Iron Studios (January 2018–January 2020; sold to Scopely, then to Daybreak Game Company)
    • Fogbank Entertainment (March 2018–January 2020; shuttered by Disney)
  • FoxNext Destinations
  • FoxNext VR Studio

Theme parks

During the 2010s, Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products announced plans for multiple Twentieth Century Fox World theme parks across Asia. In 2013, Fox collaborated with Genting Malaysia Berhad to create the inaugural branded park—a $300 million project spanning 25 acres and featuring 25 attractions inspired by Fox films. The following year, Fox and Village Roadshow Theme Parks agreed to develop a 75-acre Fox World in Changwon City, South Korea, with Village Roadshow managing operations. Additionally, Fox considered an alternative location on Yeongjong Island near Incheon.

In November 2015, Fox entered into an agreement with Al Ahli Holding Group to establish a 20th Century Fox World near Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This deal permitted Al Ahli to develop up to four Fox-themed parks outside the United States. Nevertheless, by April 2018, the Dubai initiative was indefinitely postponed due to concerns over market oversaturation.

Genting Malaysia issued a default notice related to its licensing contract for the Malaysian park. After legal proceedings involving Disney, both parties reached a settlement in July 2019: the park would remove the Fox branding but maintain select Fox properties alongside newly introduced non-Fox attractions. In May 2020, Genting Group announced the park’s rebranding as Genting SkyWorlds.

Locations

Virtual reality

The Fox Innovation Lab spearheaded the division’s virtual reality initiatives with The Martian VR Experience in 2016; however, it received unfavorable critiques and was subject to significant price reductions. At CES in January 2017, the lab unveiled a "Planet of the Apes" VR project produced by Imaginati Studio.

  • Crisis on the Planet of the Apes VR (April 3, 2018), compatible with Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR; developed by Imaginati Studio.
  • Alien: Descent (April 26, 2018), a location-based VR attraction at The Outlets in Orange County, California.

Video games

Fox Interactive, established in 1994 by former Time Warner Interactive executive Ted Hoff, was the initial video game branch of 20th Century Fox before its sale to Vivendi Universal Games in 2003. Subsequently, Fox Digital Entertainment was formed in 2010 with a focus solely on mobile gaming.

  • Marvel Strike Force, a mobile title released in March 2018 by FoxNext Games LA
  • Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow, a mobile game launched on June 29, 2017; developed collaboratively by TinyCo (Jam City), Groening’s Curiosity Co., and Rough Draft Studios
  • The X-Files: Deep State, a mystery-investigation puzzle game released February 6, 2018 by Estonia-based Creative Mobile
  • Alien: Blackout, a mobile game from January 2019 developed by D3 Go! and Rival Games
  • Storyscape, created by Fogbank Entertainment

External links

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