FoxNext
A former 20th Century Fox division focused on video games, immersive entertainment, virtual reality and location-based attractions.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
FoxNext was an entertainment division established by 20th Century Fox in January 2017 to combine and expand the company’s activities in interactive entertainment, virtual reality and location-based experiences. Its remit brought together Fox’s mobile-game activities, selected console and PC game interests, immersive-media initiatives and the development of branded theme-park projects connected with 20th Century Fox properties. The division was created at a time when major media companies were seeking additional ways to extend film and television franchises into games, virtual reality and physical attractions. The division was led by Salil Mehta, who had previously held senior roles at NBCUniversal, The Walt Disney Company and Fox. FoxNext incorporated the operations responsible for projects such as The Simpsons: Tapped Out and Alien: Isolation, while also assuming oversight of the planned 20th Century Fox World attraction projects. Its entertainment portfolio subsequently expanded through acquisitions and internal studio formation. In June 2017, FoxNext acquired the Los Angeles and San Francisco studios formerly associated with Kabam, reorganizing them as Aftershock Studios. In January 2018 it acquired Cold Iron Studios from Perfect World Entertainment, and in March 2018 it established Fogbank Entertainment in San Francisco. FoxNext Games developed and published licensed mobile titles based on major entertainment properties. Its most commercially prominent release was Marvel Strike Force, a character-collection role-playing game developed with Marvel Entertainment and Aftershock Studios. The game launched in March 2018 and became a significant mobile business for the division. FoxNext also released or supported titles including Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow, The X-Files: Deep State and Alien: Blackout. Through Fogbank, it pursued a more narrative-oriented games strategy, including the interactive storytelling platform Storyscape. In 2019, FoxNext announced an initiative intended to provide resources and support to independent developers; Etherborn by Altered Matter was identified as the first project in that portfolio. The division also worked in virtual and augmented reality. Its projects included Crisis on the Planet of the Apes VR and the Alien: Descent location-based experience, which opened at The Outlets at Orange in California in April 2018. Earlier Fox Innovation Lab work, including The Martian VR Experience and a Planet of the Apes virtual-reality project, provided part of the foundation for FoxNext’s immersive-media activities. FoxNext’s location-based entertainment work was affected by difficulties surrounding the proposed 20th Century Fox World parks. The Malaysia project became the subject of litigation between Fox and Genting Malaysia after disagreements over delays and licensing. The dispute was settled in 2019, and the park ultimately proceeded under the Genting SkyWorlds name rather than the Fox brand. A proposed Dubai park was placed on indefinite hold in 2018, while plans for a South Korean project did not develop into an operating Fox-branded park. Following Disney’s acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox in 2019, Disney reviewed FoxNext’s operations and decided to divest the games assets. In January 2020, FoxNext Games Los Angeles, Aftershock and Cold Iron Studios were sold to Scopely. The transaction’s price was not publicly disclosed in the cited reference material. Fogbank Entertainment was closed later that month. FoxNext therefore ceased to operate as an active integrated division. Disney later created 20th Century Games as a licensing-focused games function for 20th Century Studios properties, rather than restoring FoxNext’s former publishing and development structure.
History
FoxNext was created on January 18, 2017, by 20th Century Fox as a division intended to connect the company’s film and television franchises with games, virtual reality and physical attractions. Salil Mehta was named president. The new structure consolidated Fox’s mobile-game operations, including work associated with The Simpsons: Tapped Out, with the group involved in the Alien: Isolation game and other interactive projects. It also received responsibility for the location-based entertainment program surrounding proposed 20th Century Fox World parks. Soon after formation, FoxNext announced a virtual-reality slate with Within, the immersive-media company previously known as VRSE. The planned work included Planet of the Apes material and original projects involving creators such as Chris Milk and Spike Jonze. FoxNext expanded its games capabilities in June 2017 by acquiring Kabam’s Los Angeles and San Francisco studios. The acquired business became Aftershock Studios, with Aaron Loeb appointed president of studios for FoxNext Games. The division also added James Finn as marketing chief and Marc Zachary as a business-development executive for FoxNext Destinations. FoxNext Games’ best-known project was Marvel Strike Force, announced in 2017 and released on March 28, 2018. Developed with Marvel Entertainment and Aftershock Studios, the mobile title used a roster-based role-playing format built around Marvel characters. FoxNext also published games from external developers, including Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow and The X-Files: Deep State. It created Fogbank Entertainment in March 2018 as a separate San Francisco studio and later supported projects such as Storyscape. Other published or supported titles included Alien: Blackout. The company’s immersive portfolio included Crisis on the Planet of the Apes VR, released for major consumer virtual-reality platforms in 2018, and Alien: Descent, a location-based experience that opened at The Outlets at Orange on April 26, 2018. These projects continued work that had begun through Fox Innovation Lab, including The Martian VR Experience and earlier Planet of the Apes VR development. FoxNext Destinations inherited several international theme-park initiatives. The Malaysia project, developed with Genting Malaysia, encountered delays and a major licensing dispute. Fox issued a default notice, and Genting Malaysia later filed suit, naming Disney after the acquisition of Fox. The dispute was settled out of court in July 2019. The park’s Fox branding was removed, and the development was subsequently known as Genting SkyWorlds. A proposed Dubai project was placed on indefinite hold in April 2018. Plans for South Korea also remained prospective and did not result in a documented operating Fox-branded park. Disney acquired FoxNext as part of its 2019 purchase of most of 21st Century Fox. In September 2019, Disney was reported to be considering a sale or closure of parts of the division, consistent with its preference for licensing games to outside developers rather than maintaining a large internal game-publishing operation. In January 2020, Scopely acquired FoxNext Games Los Angeles, Aftershock and Cold Iron Studios. The purchase amount was not disclosed in the supplied reference. Fogbank Entertainment was closed later in January. FoxNext consequently became defunct as an operating division. Disney later introduced 20th Century Games as a licensing and brand-management successor for games based on 20th Century Studios properties, while projects such as Aliens: Fireteam Elite continued under later ownership and licensing arrangements.
- 2020
Games assets are sold to Scopely
[1]Scopely acquired FoxNext Games Los Angeles, Aftershock and Cold Iron Studios after Disney’s acquisition of Fox.
- 2019
FoxNext launches an indie development initiative
[1]The division announced a fund and support program for independent developers, with Etherborn identified as its first portfolio project.
- 2018
Marvel Strike Force is released
[1]The Marvel-themed mobile role-playing game launched on March 28.
- 2018
Cold Iron Studios is acquired
[1]FoxNext acquired Cold Iron Studios from Perfect World Entertainment.
- 2018
Alien: Descent opens
[1]FoxNext launched its cited first location-based VR experience at The Outlets at Orange.
- 2017
FoxNext is established
[1]20th Century Fox formed FoxNext on January 18 with Salil Mehta as president, combining selected games, immersive-media and location-based entertainment activities.
- 2017
Aftershock Studios is acquired
[1]FoxNext acquired the former Kabam Los Angeles and San Francisco studios and incorporated them as Aftershock Studios.
Products and positioning
A transmedia extension of 20th Century Fox focused on turning film and television intellectual property into mobile games, immersive experiences and branded attractions.
Mobile role-playing game · 2018
Marvel Strike Force
A multiplayer mobile role-playing game developed with Marvel Entertainment and Aftershock Studios. Players collect and deploy Marvel characters in squad-based combat and progression systems. It became FoxNext Games’ most prominent games release and was launched on March 28, 2018.
Mobile game · 2017
Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow
A mobile title based on Futurama, developed by TinyCo with the involvement of the franchise’s creators and production partners. FoxNext published or supported the game as part of its strategy of extending established entertainment properties into mobile formats.
Mobile mystery and puzzle game · 2018
The X-Files: Deep State
A mystery-investigation puzzle game based on The X-Files and developed by Estonia-based Creative Mobile. It formed part of FoxNext’s portfolio of externally developed games using 20th Century Fox intellectual property.
Mobile survival game · 2019
Alien: Blackout
A mobile game set in the Alien universe, developed by D3 Go! and Rival Games. FoxNext was associated with its publication and franchise expansion activities.
Virtual-reality game · 2018
Crisis on the Planet of the Apes VR
A virtual-reality game derived from the Planet of the Apes franchise and produced with Imaginati Studio. It was released for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR in 2018.
Location-based virtual-reality experience · 2018
Alien: Descent
An Alien-themed location-based VR attraction that opened at The Outlets at Orange in Orange County, California, on April 26, 2018. It represented FoxNext’s effort to combine branded entertainment with venue-based immersive technology.
Interactive storytelling platform
Storyscape
A narrative-focused interactive entertainment project associated with Fogbank Entertainment, the San Francisco studio created by FoxNext Games in 2018.
Brand decisions
2020
Sale of FoxNext Games assets to ScopelyM&ABackground
After Disney acquired most of 21st Century Fox, it reviewed FoxNext and moved to divest its games-development assets.
Action taken
Scopely acquired FoxNext Games Los Angeles, Aftershock and Cold Iron Studios in January 2020. The cited material does not provide a purchase price.
Aftermath
Fogbank Entertainment was closed later in January, and FoxNext ceased operating as an integrated games and immersive-entertainment division.
2019
Creation of an independent-developer support fundStrategyBackground
FoxNext sought to broaden its games portfolio beyond internally controlled franchise projects and announced a program for supporting independent developers.
Action taken
The division created a development fund offering resources and support; Etherborn by Altered Matter was identified as the first participating project.
Aftermath
The initiative was overtaken by the subsequent sale and closure of FoxNext’s games operations.
2019
Settlement of the Genting Malaysia theme-park disputeOtherBackground
Fox and Genting Malaysia pursued legal claims concerning delays and licensing issues affecting the planned 20th Century Fox World park in Malaysia.
Action taken
The parties reached an out-of-court settlement in July 2019.
Aftermath
The Fox name was removed from the park concept, which later became Genting SkyWorlds, while certain Fox properties remained available for completion under the settlement framework.
Sources1 sources
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