Recognize that iconic logo? U.S.-based games publisher Acclaim is back, and it’s kicking off its new era with its first-ever Play Acclaim showcase.
The prolific IP returned in March 2025 after a group of industry professionals acquired the trademark, but the official teaser was shared last month. The short, playfully retro trailer shows several small CRT TVs, each featuring a different game that fans can expect to see in Acclaim’s new lineup.
In a new press release, Acclaim assures fans that its revival isn’t a self-indulgent endeavor. “This isn’t nostalgia for its own sake. It’s something else: a kind of retrofuturenostalgia, paying homage to and embracing the brand’s unmistakable DNA and history while charting a bold new course into the future.”
The brand is seemingly prioritizing community connection and trust-building. CEO Alex Josef similarly reassured fans in last month’s press release, promising Acclaim isn’t back to rehash the past, but pave a new path. “We’re not here to chase ghosts,” he said. “We’re here to take the energy and chaos that made Acclaim unforgettable and channel it into something new. The old screens are cracking, and what’s coming through is something exciting and different.”
“We’re here to keep the fire going,” Josef says in the publisher’s latest press release. “We’re carrying that same spark forward, the kind that made Acclaim stand out in the first place, but we’re shaping it into something new, something alive, something built for today. We’re here to get the party started as masters of new independent games, and we hope everyone joins us to experience the bold, innovative spirit of Acclaim’s next chapter.”
“You can’t rewrite the past,” he adds. “But you can build upon it. This is about owning our story and moving it into a future that feels bold, energetic, and completely fresh.”
Acclaim, first founded in 1987, was among the world’s foremost game developers and publishers for decades, bringing popular arcade titles like Mortal Kombat, Turok, and NBA Jam to players’ home consoles. Today, Acclaim hopes to return to its roots by introducing indie developers and industry underdogs to contemporary gamers.
While gamers will have to wait until 2026 to acquire Acclaim’s revived titles for themselves, they can get a closer look at the exciting new offerings on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT/20:30 CEST.
Tune into Acclaim’s official presentation on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, via the brand’s YouTube account.
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A lifelong gamer raised on classic titles like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Croc, Stephanie brings her expertise of gaming and pop culture to deliver unique, refreshing views on the world of video games, complete with references to absurd and obscure media.
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