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In a nutshell: Iconic video game publisher Acclaim Entertainment is making a comeback. The company was founded in 1987 and evolved into a publishing powerhouse in the 90s. Several of the decade’s biggest franchises including NBA Jam, Mortal Kombat, NFL Quarterback Club, The Simpsons, and numerous WWF pro wrestling games from Rare, Iguana Entertainment, and others all went through Acclaim. The tides eventually turned, however, and Acclaim ended up filing bankruptcy in 2004.
The relaunched company will be led by industry veteran Alex Josef and focus on reviving classic franchises as well as supporting indie developers through funding, marketing, and PR assistance. Josef has more than two decades of experience in the industry and has helped market and publish hundreds of games across PC, console, and mobile.
The new CEO said Acclaim has already signed some “incredible” indie titles that will be revealed soon.
An advisory board comprised of gaming and entertainment veterans including Jeff Jarrett will provide guidance and help shape the company’s future.
Jarrett, a professional wrestler and two-time hall of famer, said his early involvement in the publisher’s hit 16-bit WWF titles demonstrated firsthand the type of impact great games can have on players and fans. “I’m thrilled to now be a partner in the revival of Acclaim,” Jarrett added.
A new chapter begins for us – PRESS RESTART! 🚀
Join us on this journey, and stay tuned for what’s to come for gamers and game developers! 🎮✨#Acclaim #AcclaimIsBack #Gaming pic.twitter.com/MaOfNIvjjf
– PlayAcclaim (@PlayAcclaim) March 4, 2025
Acclaim-published wrestling games were led by WWF Royal Rumble for the SNES and Genesis, WWF Rage in the Cage for Sega CD, WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game, and WWF Raw for consoles and handhelds.
Other advisory board members include Mark Caplan with Ridge Partners and Russell Binder at Striker Entertainment. Eric Vogel at JET Management and Phil Toronto with VaynerFund, meanwhile, will help with Acclaim’s long-term growth strategy.
Acclaim said it wants to reignite classic franchises but didn’t cite any specific examples. It is unclear which games the company still has the rights to as many of its assets were auctioned off years ago and have changed hands multiple times since. In 2018, for example, Liquid Media acquired 65 Acclaim games for $1 million including multiple entries in the NBA Jam franchise.
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