New division to be called Disney Interactive Media Group.

According to a memo leaked from the Disney CEO's office, the Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) and Disney Interactive Studios (DIS) will be merging into a new combined unit - Disney Interactive Media Group (DIMG). This new group will be headed by Steve Wadsworth, current head of WDIG. From the leaked memo:

This new unit, which will be led by Steve Wadsworth, will have global responsibility for development and distribution of all Disney-branded interactive digital media and entertainment for all digital interactive platforms. Existing management teams will continue to run the combined group, and Steve will work with Graham Hopper and the WDIG and DIS management teams to optimize for new opportunities this creates.

Digital media is a high priority for our company, and focusing all of our Disney-branded interactive digital media efforts in one group will ensure we are best positioned to maximize this emerging and dynamic opportunity. We have made fantastic progress through the efforts of Disney Internet Group and Disney Interactive Studios, and the combined organization will maximize the experience, expertise and talent of both groups across all platforms to be a world-class interactive digital media company.

Now the reason why this is interesting is this is not Disney's first venture into online games. Some of you remember Virtual Magic Kingdom - Disney's MMO. It started in 2005 as a promotion designed to last six months, but was so popular it wound up being held open until just earlier this year. From the VMK website:

VMK launched as a part of the Disneyland 50th Celebration and is now closed. Disney.com continues to create experiences to amaze our guests and we hope that all of our VMK friends will continue to join us.

Thank you to the community that made VMK so special. Wait until you see what we're imagining next... :-)

Could this be the first steps Disney is taking in developing a true, high-quality, big name MMO? Lord knows they have the money behind them.

For the full story and press release, click here.

Via Paid Content.org.

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2016

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