It is not uncommon to see the return of old things in the gaming industry, be it a reboot or a port. But that usually applies to games, but on the publisher front, things are shaking up as the legendary video game publisher Acclaim is making a comeback after more than two decades.
Initially founded in 1987 and shut down in 2004, the modern iteration of Acclaim is doing things a little differently. The team at the helm is looking to support indie developers and reignite classic franchises. This comes in the form of much-needed resources such as funding, marketing and PR support, allowing independent studios to bring their creative visions to a broad audience.
Leading the charge will be an advisory board comprised of industry leaders, including Russell Binder at Striker Entertainment, Mark Caplan at Ridge Partners, and Jeff Jarrett at Global Force Entertainment. The hope is that their experience and guidance will allow the publisher to stay true to its goals and push the gaming industry forward alongside CEO Alex Josef, who has more than two decades in the industry.
“For more than three decades, I’ve had the privilege to have been a part of both the wrestling and gaming universes, and I’m thrilled to now be a partner in the revival of Acclaim, an iconic publisher known for releasing some of the most legendary games of the ‘80s and ‘90s,” said Jarrett.
“From my early involvement with the publisher’s hit 16-bit WWF titles to my experience helping shape the TNA Wrestling series, which spawned the first video game wrestler to become a full-time roster member in the Squared Circle, I’ve seen firsthand the type of impact great games can have on players and fans. Resurrecting Acclaim is an opportunity to impart the same degree of passion and love to a new generation, and I’m excited to be involved.”
The leadership team will be supported by Phil Toronto, partner at VaynerFund, and Eric Vogel, partner at JET Management, whose expertise in investment could be vital in keeping things sustainable for the longer term.
“It’s an absolute honor and pleasure to be leading the charge in bringing Acclaim back to the forefront of the games industry,” said Josef. “We’re fortunate that we have an extremely talented team and that we’ve already signed some incredible indie titles, which we’ll be revealing soon.”
