Acclaim - a Legendary Name in Gaming History - is Coming Back

Acclaim is making a comeback!

A legendary name in gaming history is making a comeback—Acclaim, the publisher behind iconic titles like NBA Jam and Mortal Kombat’s console versions, is being revived as an indie-focused game publisher.

Originally founded in 1987, Acclaim became known for its licensed games, including Justice League Task Force, and its bold marketing stunts for games like Turok: Evolution and Shadow Man: 2econd Coming. However, after several commercial failures—most notably BMX XXX—the company went bankrupt in 2004 and faded into gaming history. That is, until now.

The revival of Acclaim comes from a collaboration between Striker Entertainment, Ridge Partners, Global Force Entertainment, VaynerFund, and JET Management. Their goal is to support independent developers by providing funding, marketing, and PR, while also looking to reignite classic franchises. This approach mirrors Atari’s recent efforts to modernize and reintroduce its legacy titles.

While details on which franchises Acclaim now owns remain unclear, the announcement highlighted key figures leading the charge, including CEO Alex Josef and Hall of Fame wrestler Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett, who previously worked with Acclaim on its WWF games, expressed enthusiasm for the relaunch, saying, “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.”

No new game announcements have been made yet, but Josef hinted that Acclaim has already signed several exciting projects, with more details coming soon.