Disney is probably the biggest and most important entertaiment company in the world. Througout the decades, they have built a dense structure of products to catter every single possible audience there is, no matter the taste, no matter the age. The chances of someone not being a fan of at least one thing owned by Disney is almost non-existant. And yet, Disney really doesn't put that much efford into videogames. I'm not talking about the mobile games, I'm sure they have a lot of those avalible already. I'm talking about core gaming. They have some of the biggest intelectual properties out there (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Marvel Universe, the classic Disney movies and cartoons, the Pixar movies...). And yet they always seem to license their properties rather than make the games themselves. The biggest videogame investment Disney ever did (that I can think of) is Disney Infinity, one of the most expensive videogames ever, sure, buteven that looks more a strategy to sell NFCs than to sell the actual videogame. They buying LucasArts gave them an amazing oportunity to become a major player in the videogame bussiness, but they dissolved the company and gave EA all the control over the rights of Star Wars for ten years or so. That is a long time to let other company control your property, specially something as big as Star Wars.

It's not like Disney games flop or underperform, or that gamers don't respond well to Disney. Kingdom Hearts is one of the most popular SE games because it mixes typical SE tropes and characters with Disney worlds. All of those license Capcom games of old are really praised and remembered fondly even to this day. Disney Infinity has made them a fortune. Hell, do you remember that Frozen: Olaf's Quest videogame? Between the DS and the 3DS versions, it reached the million copies, so there's obviously a potential audience there. And there's a ton of Star Wars games that proved that an older audience is open to those videogames.

Why isn't Disney more interested in making videogames? They have the talent and the resources to do so, it seems foolish not to build up on it, specially for a company that's hell-bent on controlling every aspect of modern entertainment.

they already are doing gaming, mobile gaming.

Licensed games on consoles are almost something of the past. It used to be an easy way to make money, but now, it's so hard to compete with AAA, that they just can't see how they can spend that much money on a game that will certainly not sell enough to get their money back.

That's why they farmed everything out to EA with star wars, that way it's almost no risk for disney and they make a good chunk of money.

But the main problem is mobile, they make as much money on those crappy apps whil spending a small fraction of what a console game would have cost. So why bother with consoles?

because the most popular games are R rated and gory games, catered towards adults, and Desiny isnt interested in making that. im sure they feel what they make is enough

I can mostly think of two reasons:

Investment costs.Disney may be drowning in money, but money is still money, and to make a big and great videogame it still require dozens of millions to make.So its a risky business.So for them I think its just easier and less risky to just license their IPs to others.
The other reason is that I think they lack enough talents to pull that off.They may have personel for Infinity, but if they plan to make other type of games, they will need to hire more people.
I think licensing just makes them more money

It's easier and less risky for them to licence their IPs to other publishers. That way publishers take the dev cost, but Disney gets paid a % of revenue, regardless of how the game performs in relation to its budget.

I don't know, but I missed the old SNES and Megadrive Disney games. They were some of the finest platformers out there...

I think questions already been answered, but to help add to it (if my response is seen as helpful that is) :

Disney can use the same formula when making their Disney animated films and it will always be a success as the audiences expectations and wants remain the same as it's usually kids and parents.

Gaming is kind of all over the place. People say they want something but sales sometimes don't reflect it, or a game will get panned for not being different enough or being too different.the investment return compared to the risk and unstable nature of what journalists and gamers really want is to high for Disney it seems.

I always felt like they could make a great platformer if they gave the IP's to a trusted developer/publisher =.
Usually it seems companies go to them, and not the other way around for gaming. IE Kingdom hearts, or that Disney rpg game on the 3DS by Namdai.

My guess is Option 4 :).
However tho, I think they will, it's just a matter of time before the Mouse jumping on the gaming trend :). The market is bigger than ever and there will always be room for more.
But wouldn't you worry about this ? I mean after all, it's DISNEY! and people often compare Nintendo is like a Disney version in gaming, so wouldn't you worry if the real Disney come in and take over the cake ?
If i am the CEO of Nintendo, the least thing i would want is another company that focusing on the same market (the family friendly and general) Especially if it's Disney, one of the most loved company in the world.

You discount their mobile games but that's where they are at. They have Disney infinity and the games EA is making for consoles and all the mobile games they have. They don't see making games for adults and kids are on their mobile devices so that's just where it is at.