Transformers: Autocracy by Flint Dille and Chris Metzen will be on sale today January 18th via iPhone and iPad for only 99 cents.

Don’t have an iPad or iPhone? You can still read this comic right off your internet browser. Order it here.

A few hours ago, IDW Publishing launched a video teaser announcing Transformers: Autocracy.

Before OPTIMUS became a PRIME… he fought for order. Before MEGATRON became a conqueror… he fought for freedom. Before they were enemies… they stood against — AUTOCRACY.

AUTOCRACY is an all-new 99¢ bi-weekly TRANSFORMERS series featuring the stunning TRANSFORMERS writing debut of Chris Metzen — SVP, Story and Franchise Development at Blizzard Entertainment and one of the main creative minds behind the company’s Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® universes. Metzen is joined by co-writer Flint Dille, a fan-favorite for his work on the original TRANSFORMERS animated series, and TRANSFORMERS: CHAOS artist, Livio Ramondelli.

Debuts January 18th, 2012!
https://idwpublishing.com/digitalcomics/transformers/

Speculation-Mode On

It hadn’t come to me until now. At BlizzCon 2010, Chris Metzen led a panel where the main topic was: “GEEK IS…” — in which Metzen mentioned among many iconic and popular franchises the Transformers.

Out of the blue, last summer, at the BotCon 2011 Chris Metzen and Flint Dille revealed they would launch a online-only comic book titled Transformers: Autocracy.

Could Blizzard Entertainment develop a video game based on The Transformers?

Years ago, Blizzard developed The Death and Return of Superman (1994) and Justice League Task Force (1995). It wouldn’t be surprising to see Blizzard Entertainment go back to their roots in consoles games, nor to see them develop franchises other than their triune (Warcraft, Diablo, StarCraft).

So, here’s an interesting concept to wrap your mind around.

A few years ago, when Blizzard Entertainment was co-developing StarCraft: Ghost, they partnered with Swingin’ Ape Studios — popular for their video game titled Metal Arms: Glitch in the System (for GameCube, Xbox, and PlayStation 2).

Blizzard Entertainment acquired Swingin’ Ape Studios (May 16, 2005). StarCraft: Ghost was postponed months later, but the 40 Swingin’ Ape Studios developers have been at Blizzard Entertainment working under the radar.

Metal Arms. Transformers. Metal Arms. Transformers. Dig it?

Metal Arms

Follow-Up

As posted in the comments section at the bottom of this page, Blizzard Entertainment is currently developing two MMOs:

1. Next-Gen MMO (Titan)
2. Unannounced Game Title

These are in plain sight for the public to see in the Blizzard Career Opportunities page. So by all means, don’t take my word. Go check it out and see by yourself. Here’s a screenshot too.

Back in March 2009, I found a Blizzard Entertainment job opening for an unannounced game title. I contacted a Blizzard developer to ask if this job opening was for the Next-Gen MMO. To my surprise, the answer was this Unannounced Game Title was not related to the Next-Gen MMO, and it was not related to World of Warcraft. You can read the 2009 article here.