Sierra returns as Activision's new indie label

The rumored return of publishing label Sierra is official, as parent Activision Blizzard announced today new games and a new angle for the brand. Sierra is now relaunching as an indie games label for Activision Blizzard, a publisher whose focus has traditionally been set squarely on big-budget games like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. The label is tapping into its roots with the announcement of a new King’s Quest, one of Sierra’s most famous franchises. The new entry, due in 2015, is under development by indie studio The Odd Gentlemen, developers of award-winning game The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom. Also on the way is a new entry in the Geometry Wars arcade shooter series, titled Geometry Wars^3: Dimensions. It’s in development by Lucid Games, a British studio founded by former members of Bizarre Creations, the developer that created the original Geometry Wars games. Sierra co-founder Ken Williams commented in a statement, "We're very proud of what we created all those years ago with Sierra Online, and today's news about carrying Sierra forward as an indie-specific brand is very encouraging.” Sierra was founded in 1979 and became best known for games like King’s Quest, Police Quest, Leisure Suit Larry, and other mainstays of the adventure game genre. The label has been dormant since 2008. A statement from Activision said its search for more indies to publish is “well underway.” Sierra is looking to publish other games as early as this year, as well as into next and beyond. Sierra will publish primarily on digital platforms such as PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and Steam. Bob Loya, sr. direct of external development at Activision, said Sierra is “in talks with a large number of other indie devs.”