The 90s Publisher, Acclaim, Will Have an Unexpected Rebirth.

Acclaim, known for titles such as Turok, Mortal Kombat, and WWF WrestleMania, is making a comeback with a renewed focus on indie games and its extensive catalog of classics. This move has taken many by surprise, as the company closed its doors in 2004 and is now returning 21 years later. Under the leadership of Alex Josef, Acclaim presents a promising revival of its brand, backed by the strength of its name. According to Josef, this is a completely new relaunch with a revamped team.

The reactivation of Acclaim comes at a time when many video game studios are shutting down, including the well-known Monolith Studios. The new Acclaim aims to offer funding, marketing, and more to independent studios, ensuring they have all the necessary resources to reach the largest audience possible.

The refreshed management team includes an advisory board made up of iconic personalities from the entertainment world, such as wrestler Jeff Jarrett and other notable athletes and musicians. Acclaim made its debut in the world of video games in the late 1980s with titles for the NES like Tiger-Heli and Star Voyager, and later published an extensive list of games, including the famous puzzle Myst. In recent years, several of its older games have resurfaced, particularly in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog, with games like Extreme-G and Iggy’s Reckin’ Balls appearing in the N64 library.

Additionally, franchises like Turok 2: Seeds of Evil and Shadow Man are also set to receive new entries, with Blowfish Studios working on a new Shadow Man game and Saber Interactive developing a new version of Turok. While it hasn’t been specified which games Acclaim has in mind for its return, Josef indicated that they are considering rebooting certain titles, although not all intellectual property rights will be available. The company’s goal is to release three to four games a year while firmly establishing itself in the market.