Gamers who grew up in the late ’80s and early ’90s know the Acclaim logo from games like NBA Jam, Mortal Kombat, and Turok. Originally founded in 1987, the brand shut its doors in 2004. However, earlier this year, a group of executives purchased the Acclaim trademark. Now, Acclaim Entertainment is back, as a rebirth under CEO Alex Josef. The company has announced its first-ever Play Acclaim showcase for September 10 at 11:30 AM Pacific (2:30 PM Eastern), where it will share more about its upcoming lineup of titles.
There are hints of those titles in a teaser trailer posted today, which shows a mix of new and old. According to Josef, Acclaim is focused on taking the energy and chaos that made the brand unforgettable decades ago and channeling it into something new. Acclaim calls it a kind of “retrofuturenostalgia,” paying homage to the brand’s DNA and history while charting a bold new course.
In addition to CEO Alex Josef, the new Acclaim is led by Russell Binder, Mark Caplan, and Jeff Jarrett (yes, the pro wrestler Jeff Jarrett).