’90s Game Publisher Acclaim is Back from the Dead, Announces New PlayAcclaim Showcase in September
Acclaim, the iconic US-based video game publisher known for its major successes in the 1990s with titles like Mortal Kombat, Turok, and NBA Jam, is officially making a comeback. After filing for bankruptcy in 2004, the publisher has resurfaced with a new identity and a bold statement: it will debut its own PlayAcclaim showcase series on September 10, 2025. PlayAcclaim’s official site confirms the return.
The event, titled “A New Era is Coming,” is set to present Acclaim’s upcoming lineup of titles while paying tribute to the brand’s unforgettable legacy. According to the teaser trailer, eagle-eyed fans may already spot hints of what’s to come as Acclaim positions itself for a new era in modern gaming.
Acclaim is now led by Alex Josef, who previously served as CEO of Graffiti Games. Josef made it clear in the press release that this revival is not about nostalgia alone, but about reimagining Acclaim’s energy and chaotic creativity for a new generation.
“We’re not here to chase ghosts,” Josef 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. You can’t rewrite the past, 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.”
While this new iteration of Acclaim won’t be publishing the Mortal Kombat series - now owned by Warner Bros. - its resurrection may still spark the revival of other classic franchises or introduce entirely new properties. Fans of the ’90s catalog will be eager to see whether Acclaim leans on nostalgia or pushes into new creative frontiers.
With its first major showcase just weeks away, the gaming community will soon find out what Josef and his team plan to contribute to today’s industry landscape.
Do you think Acclaim will revive its old franchises, or should it focus on building entirely new ones? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
