Disney Infinity pushing through with Marvel, Star Wars integration

Disney is reportedly planning to bring two of its hottest properties into its popular sandbox video game, Disney Infinity. Yes, that’s right: Marvel and Star Wars characters will be getting the figurine and virtual toy treatment, meaning one day, Luke Skywalker, Jack Sparrow, Spider-man, and Monster University’s Sulley could be having adventures together. Sounds like a dream made in geek heaven.

 

Disney Infinity is an action/adventure sandbox title. In order to play, you need a collectible figurine, which, when placed on a hexagonal base called an “Infinity base”, imports the character into the game world. You can then proceed to play with the “virtual toy” of this character.

 

The game’s two modes of play include the “Play Set Mode”, in which you play in an environment specifically made for the character you are using, and the “Toy Box Mode”, in which you explore worlds created by fellow players.

 

 

 

 

While Disney Infinity’s starter kit includes Sulley, Jack Sparrow, and Mr. Incredible, additional figures could be purchased. These include characters from a variety of Disney properties, including Toy Story, Tangled, Wreck-it-Ralph, Cars, Lone Ranger, and the recent Frozen. Adding Star Wars and Marvel characters into this already diverse mix would make for some truly interesting experiences.

 

Lay-offs

 

Disney Infinity has proven financially successful, selling over three million starter sets to date since its release in August 2013. It has made Disney Interactive’s last quarter extremely profitable.

 

Despite this, a report from the Wall Street Journal says Disney’s game unit will be laying off hundreds of people. The job cuts could begin as soon as February 5, after the quarterly earning reports are released.

 

Currently, Disney Interactive Studios employs around 3,000 people. The cuts could affect Playdom, Disney’s social-gaming studio which it acquired for $563 million in 2010.

 

The lay offs, however, will have no impact on Disney Infinity. Two new play sets are already being developed for the game, but concrete details have yet to surface about whether these are based on the aforementioned Star War and Marvel universes, or something else. — TJD, GMA News