{{Short description|Defunct American video game developer and publisher}} {{Distinguish|text=Disney Interactive, the modern successor of Disney Interactive Studios}} {{Lead too short|date=May 2024|reason=Does not mention any of the company's history other than its closure.}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox company | name = Disney Interactive Studios, Inc. | logo = Disney Interactive Studios logo.png | logo_caption = Final logo, used from 2007 to 2016 | former_names = {{plainlist| * {{nowrap|Walt Disney Computer Software}}<br />(1988–1994) * Buena Vista Software<br />(1988–1994) * Disney Interactive<br />(1994–2003) * Buena Vista Games<br />(2003–2007) }} | type = Subsidiary | founded = {{start date and age|1988|9|15}} | fate = Closed | defunct = {{end date and age|2016|5|10}} | successor = Disney Interactive | hq_location_city = 500 Paula Ave, Glendale, California | hq_location_country = US | industry = Video games | brands = Touchstone Interactive | parent = Walt Disney Television (1988–1995)<br />Disney Interactive (1995–2016) | subsid = See {{section link||Studios}} | website = {{URL|disneyinteractive.com}} }}
'''Disney Interactive Studios, Inc.''' was an American video game developer and publisher owned by the Walt Disney Company through Disney Interactive. Prior to its closure in 2016, it developed and distributed multi-platform video games and interactive entertainment worldwide.
Most of the games released by Disney Interactive Studios were typically tie-in products to existing character franchises.<ref name=wrd>{{cite news|last=Kohler|first=Chris|title=How Videogames Are Changing Disney|url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/10/disney-videogames/|access-date=17 October 2012|newspaper=Wired.com|date=October 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018201650/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/10/disney-videogames|archive-date=18 October 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On May 10, 2016, as a result of the discontinuation of its ''Disney Infinity'' series, Disney shut down Disney Interactive Studios, and exited the first-party home console game development business in order to focus on third-party development of home console video games through other developers. However, it continues to release games for iOS and Android mobile devices under its own label, Disney Mobile, and later revived the Marvel Games and Lucasfilm Games labels for licensing of third-party developed games based on Marvel and Lucasfilm properties respectively.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} Disney Electronic Content is a spiritual successor to the company.
==History== ===1988–1994: Walt Disney Computer Software=== Disney established its own in house gaming unit,<ref name=wrd/> '''Walt Disney Computer Software, Inc. (WDCS)''', and it was incorporated on September 15, 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/Document/RetrievePDF?Id=01622825-4076736|title=Articles of Incorporation: Walt Disney Computer Software|access-date=May 3, 2020|archive-date=December 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203065313/https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/Document/RetrievePDF?Id=01622825-4076736|url-status=dead}}</ref> WDCS generally used third-party development studios to design spin-off games using its existing portfolio of characters. WDCS failed to meet the high expectations that came with the Disney name, although three of its self-published computer titles – ''Mickey's Runaway Zoo'', ''Donald's Alphabet Chase'' and ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' – sold more than 100,000 copies, the industry equivalent of earning a Gold Record.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Apodaca |first=Patrice |date=29 May 1993 |title=Is Disney Mousing Around? |pages=55–56 |work=The Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/712142460/?terms=%22walt%20disney%20computer%20software%22 |access-date=9 Oct 2023}}</ref> The underlying issues were later attributed by senior Disney executives as being due to low product quality and lack of understanding of the differences between film and games.<ref name=sd>{{cite news|last=Gibson|first=Nick|title=Disney assault on games market: acquisitions and restructuring underpin rapid growth|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-194279934.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811225737/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-194279934.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2013|access-date=17 October 2012|newspaper=Screen Digest|date=February 1, 2009}}</ref>
WDCS also published a series of Nintendo (NES) and Gameboy platform game titles with Japanese video game company Capcom. Of these titles, 1989's ''DuckTales'' received the most commercial and critical success, selling approximately 1.67 million and 1.43 million copies worldwide respectively, each becoming Capcom's highest-selling titles for their respective platforms.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=27 May 2008 |title=SFII SNES is Capcom's best-selling game |newspaper=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/sfii-snes-is-capcoms-best-selling-game |access-date=9 Oct 2023 |website=}}</ref> Produced by founding WDCS producer Darlene Waddington, ''DuckTales''{{'}} Gameboy version was named "Gameboy Game of the Year" by ''PC Player Magazine''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lacey |first=Darlene |date=8 Mar 2020 |title=My Adventures in the Computer Games Industry |url=https://darlenelacey.com/blog/my-adventures-in-the-computer-game-industry |access-date=9 Oct 2023}}</ref> ''DuckTales'' continues to be considered a game with high nostalgic interest<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tieryas |first=Peter |date=2 Feb 2021 |title=The Story Behind DuckTales on NES |url=https://kotaku.com/the-story-behind-ducktales-on-nes-1846174912}}</ref> and was remade in 2013 as ''DuckTales: Remastered''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney DuckTales: Remastered |website=Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/disney-ducktales-remastered/ |access-date=9 Oct 2023}}</ref>
Following ''DuckTales,'' WDCS developed and published another NES platform game with Capcom, ''Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers''. ''Rescue Rangers'' proved to be a commercial success, selling approximately 1.2 million copies worldwide, becoming Capcom's fourth highest-selling game for the Nintendo Entertainment System.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Sep 2007 |title=Capcom IR (Investor Relationss) |url=http://ir.capcom.co.jp/english/data/million.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116224723/http://ir.capcom.co.jp/english/data/million.html |archive-date=16 Jan 2008 |access-date=9 Oct 2023}}</ref> Continuing with the success of these titles, Disney continued to find success with another Capcom developed title, ''Aladdin'' and ''The Lion King'' (developed by Westwood Studios) in 1993 and 1994 respectively. This led to a move from self-developed and self-published to funding and development management of games with third parties published the game.<ref name="sd" />
===1994–2002: Disney Interactive=== thumb|120px|The logo of Disney Interactive from 1995 to 2007 Using the film studio style formula, WDCS was reorganized into '''Disney Interactive, Inc. (DI)'''<ref name=sd/> on December 5, 1994, with the merging of WDCS and Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications.<ref>{{cite web|last=Polsson|first=Ken|title=July to December 1994|url=http://kpolsson.com/disnehis/disn1994jul.htm|work=Chronology of the Walt Disney Company|publisher=Ken Polsson|access-date=6 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213014208/http://kpolsson.com/disnehis/disn1994jul.htm|archive-date=13 December 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Fisher |first=Maxine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vmi6HAAACAAJ |title=Walt Disney |year=1988 |isbn=978-0-531-10493-4 |pages=A8|publisher=F. Watts }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The New York Times|date=December 6, 1994|newspaper=The New York Times|pages=D5}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|date=19 February 1995|title=CD-ROM Today|journal=CD-ROM Today|volume=3|issue=2|pages=26}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|date=March 1995|title=Windows Magazine|journal=Windows Magazine|volume=6|issue=3|pages=42}}</ref>
On April 15, 1997, Disney Interactive announced it would exit the in-house video game market and reduce its staff by 20%.<ref>{{cite news |title=Disney software cuts jobs |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/disney-software-cuts-jobs/ |access-date=26 February 2025 |work=CNET |date=April 17, 1997}}</ref> The company would instead license out Disney properties to third-party developers and publishers, of which the development and production cost risks were transferred to the game companies but reduced the per-unit revenue generated to Disney and effectively yielded a near 100% margin of licensed game sales.<ref name=sd/>
In 1998, Disney Interactive signed a deal with Sony Computer Entertainment America to publish titles based on the films ''A Bug's Life'' and ''Tarzan'' exclusively on the PlayStation console.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnston |first1=Chris |title=Disney/Sony Team Up For PlayStation Titles |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/disney-sony-team-up-for-playstation-titles/1100-2463859/ |access-date=5 March 2026 |work=GameSpot |date=28 April 2000}}</ref>
On February 27, 1999, Disney Interactive signed a six-game publishing contract with Activision to release titles for the Nintendo 64, starting with ''A Bug's Life''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Activision Does Disney |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/02/27/activision-does-disney |access-date=4 March 2026 |work=IGN |date=27 February 1999 |language=en}}</ref> In May, Disney signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Nintendo which would mainly focus on video games featuring Mickey Mouse on the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color, which would be developed by then-Nintendo partner Rare. The Game Boy Color would also see titles based on ''Alice in Wonderland'' and ''Beauty and the Beast''.<ref>[http://kpolsson.com/disnehis/disn1999.htm Page 114. Volume 121 (June 1999)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929190713/http://kpolsson.com/disnehis/disn1999.htm |date=2015-09-29 }}. Nintendo Power. Accessed April 18, 2016.</ref> Another worldwide publishing deal was made with Ubi Soft in the same month for games based on Donald Duck and other Disney animated films<ref>{{cite web|title=Ubi Gets Donald|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/13/ubi-gets-donald|website=IGN|date=May 13, 1999}}</ref> which later included ''Dinosaur''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Disney signs up Ubi Soft for Dinosaur game|url=https://www.screendaily.com/disney-signs-up-ubi-soft-for-dinosaur-game/401610.article|website=Screen Daily|first=Francoise Meaux|last=Saint Marc|date=March 6, 2000}}</ref> In November, the company published a CD-ROM title based on the game show ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' which went on to sell one million copies in four weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/consumer-products/computing-products-consumer-software/6776557-1.html |title=Millionaire Tops One Million! 1 Million Units of WhoWants to be a Millionaire CD-ROM Shipped in First Four Weeks |date=December 20, 1999 |access-date=January 18, 2009 |publisher=Business Wire |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318232430/http://www.allbusiness.com/consumer-products/computing-products-consumer-software/6776557-1.html |archive-date=March 18, 2008 }}</ref>
In 2000, Disney Interactive reestablished Buena Vista Interactive as a secondary publishing label, initially being used to publish CD-ROM titles based on ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire''.
In May 2001, the company signed a deal with Sony Computer Entertainment to allow the latter to publish titles based on ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'', ''Monsters, Inc.'', ''Treasure Planet'', ''Lilo & Stitch'', and ''Peter Pan: Return to Never Land'' on the PlayStation and PlayStation 2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sony and Disney Align To Produce Games For PlayStation 2 and PSOne Consoles Based On Disney Feature Animated Content |url=http://spong.com/press_release/1676/Sony-and-Disney-Align-To-Produce-Games-For-PlayStation-2-and-PSOne-Consoles-Based-On-Disney-Feature-Animated-Content |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=SPOnG |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=E3 2001: Disney and Sony Collaborate on PS one, PS2 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/05/16/e3-2001-disney-and-sony-collaborate-on-ps-one-ps2 |access-date=4 March 2026 |work=IGN |date=16 May 2001 |language=en}}</ref> In European territories, Infogrames formerly distributed several of Disney Interactive's PC titles; however, this agreement was later replaced with several separate distribution deals, including JoWooD Productions in Germany.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dgap.de/dgap/News/adhoc/jowood-prod-software-english/?companyID=296&newsID=20652|title = JoWooD Prod. Software english - dgap.de}}</ref>
In February 2002, Disney Interactive announced that they would return to the self-publishing console/handheld market by releasing titles for the Game Boy Advance, beginning with ''Return to Never Land'', ''Lilo & Stitch'', and ''Treasure Planet''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Disney To Publish Titles For Nintendo|url=https://www.worthplaying.com/article/2002/2/1/news/2162-disney-to-publish-titles-for-nintendo/|website=WorthPlaying|date=February 1, 2002}}</ref> They later signed a deal with Ubi Soft to publish and distribute the titles in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rapport Annuel 2002 |url=https://staticctf.ubisoft.com/8aefmxkxpxwl/1j7txOvc9AbSeGfZBghy8N/060db83e9d5b75bac64339405e3442af/RA_2001-2002_UK.PDF |access-date=25 February 2026 |website=Ubisoft |page=32}}</ref> In May 2002, the company formed a third publishing label named Plaid Banana Entertainment which would publish games developed by Hulabee Entertainment, a studio formed by Humongous Entertainment founders Shelley Day and Ron Gilbert.<ref>{{cite web|title=Disney teams up with Humongous Entertainment founders|url=https://www.macworld.com/article/152464/plaid.html|website=MacWorld|first=Peter|last=Cohen|date=January 28, 2002}}</ref>
===2003–2007: Buena Vista Games=== In 2003, The Walt Disney Company announced that it would fully re-enter the self-publishing and core gaming markets, rebranding '''Disney Interactive, Inc.''' as '''Buena Vista Games, Inc. (BVG)''' The Disney Interactive and Buena Vista Interactive brands were retained as publishing labels for children's and core titles, respectively.<ref name=sd/>
On April 19, 2005, Buena Vista Games announced that they had entered the game development market. The company formed Propaganda Games, based in Vancouver, British Columbia; which was made up of former employees at EA Canada, and purchased Avalanche Software in Salt Lake City, Utah for an undisclosed amount.<ref name="gpt1-Avalanche">{{cite news|last=Kawamoto|first=Dawn|title=Disney scoops up Avalanche, founds new studio|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/disney-scoops-up-avalanche-founds-new-studio/1100-6122500/|access-date=22 October 2012|newspaper=gamespot.com|date=April 19, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709161644/http://www.gamespot.com/news/disney-scoops-up-avalanche-founds-new-studio-6122500|archive-date=July 9, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On May 13, 2005, the company announced they had acquired the video game rights to the ''Turok'' franchise from owners Classic Media; which had been previously held by Acclaim Entertainment.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney digs up Turok|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/disney-digs-up-turok/1100-6124379/|access-date=22 October 2012|newspaper=gamespot.com|date=May 13, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217215030/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/disney-digs-up-turok/1100-6124379/|archive-date=17 December 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
On April 27, 2006, Buena Vista Games entered into a publishing agreement with Japanese developer Q Entertainment where the company would publish four of the developer's titles globally except in Asia; including a Disney-themed version of ''Meteos''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/buena-vista-games-partners-with-q-entertainment | title=Buena Vista Games partners with Q Entertainment | date=April 27, 2006 }}</ref> In September, Buena Vista expanded their developer cycle by purchasing Climax Racing from the Climax Group<ref name="gpt">{{cite news|last=Sinclair|first=Brendan|title=Buena Vista Games to acquire Climax Racing|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/buena-vista-games-to-acquire-climax-racing-6158970|access-date=22 October 2012|newspaper=gamespot.com|date=September 28, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927222044/http://www.gamespot.com/news/buena-vista-games-to-acquire-climax-racing-6158970|archive-date=27 September 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and formed Fall Line Studios in November to create casual titles for the Nintendo DS and the Wii consoles.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney to make Nintendo games|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-nov-08-fi-disney8-story.html|access-date=19 October 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 8, 2006|agency=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022205746/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/nov/08/business/fi-disney8|archive-date=22 October 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
===2007–2014: Disney Interactive Studios=== On February 8, 2007, The Walt Disney Company renamed Buena Vista Games to '''Disney Interactive Studios''' as part of a larger company initiative to phase out the Buena Vista brand that year.<ref>{{cite web |first=Micah |last=Seff |title=Buena Vista Games No Longer |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/762/762776p1.html |date=February 8, 2007 |access-date=October 16, 2019 |website=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212013200/http://pc.ign.com/articles/762/762776p1.html |archive-date=February 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="bbg">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a0MG17nO.PG8&refer=home|title=Disney to Drop Buena Vista Brand Name, People Say (Update1)|last=Fixmer|first=Andy|date=April 25, 2007|work=Bloomberg News|access-date=November 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918060836/https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a0MG17nO.PG8&refer=home|archive-date=September 18, 2011}}</ref> The studio publishes both Disney and non-Disney branded video games for all platforms worldwide, with titles that feature its consumer brands including Disney, ABC, ESPN, and Touchstone (which is used as a label for Disney). In July 2007, the studio acquired Junction Point Studios.<ref name="lat">{{cite news|title=Disney buys game developer Junction Point|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jul-13-fi-disney13-story.html|access-date=19 October 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 13, 2007|agency=Bloomberg News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915051626/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jul/13/business/fi-disney13|archive-date=15 September 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
On June 5, 2008, Disney Interactive Studios and the Walt Disney Internet Group, merged into a single business unit now known as the Disney Interactive Media Group,<ref name="jsq">[http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/disneys-games-and-internet-divisions-merging/ "Disney's games and internet divisions merging"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606130157/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/disneys-games-and-internet-divisions-merging/ |date=2008-06-06 }}, Joystiq.com, 2008.</ref> and it merged its subsidiary Fall Line Studios with its sister studio, Avalanche Software, in January 2009.<ref name="gpt1">{{cite news |last=Sinclair |first=Brendan |title=Disney layoffs hit Turok, Bolt studios |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/disney-layoffs-hit-turok-bolt-studios-6203898 |access-date=22 October 2012 |newspaper=gamespot.com |date=January 29, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307205045/http://www.gamespot.com/news/disney-layoffs-hit-turok-bolt-studios-6203898 |archive-date=7 March 2012 }}</ref> In February 2009, Disney Interactive acquired Gamestar, a Chinese game development company.<ref name="cbs">{{cite news|title=Disney Interactive Studios Buys Chinese Gaming Studio Gamestar|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/disney-interactive-studios-buys-chinese-gaming-studio-gamestar/|access-date=19 October 2012|newspaper=CBS News.com|date=February 11, 2009|agency=Pearl Research}}</ref> On September 8, 2009, Disney Interactive announced that it had acquired Wideload Games.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney Interactive Studios to Buy Wideload Games|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-208350009.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611044210/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-208350009.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 11, 2014|access-date=17 October 2012|newspaper=Entertainment Close-up|date=September 9, 2009}}</ref>
In November 2010, the executive Graham Hopper left the company.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/disney-interactive-exec-graham-hopper-leaving-company |title=Disney Interactive Exec Graham Hopper Leaving Company |date=22 November 2010 |access-date=18 September 2018 |first=Kyle |last=Orland |work=Gamasutra |publisher=UBM plc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918231122/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/122290/Disney_Interactive_Exec_Graham_Hopper_Leaving_Company.php |archive-date=18 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He announced his departure via an internal e-mail saying "the time has come for me to move on from the company and set my sights on new horizons."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/11/long-time-disney-video-game-chief-graham-hopper-latest-to-exit-interactive-group.html |title=Longtime Disney video game chief Graham Hopper latest to exit interactive group |date=22 November 2010 |access-date=18 September 2018 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |first1=Dawn C. |last1=Chmielewski |first2=Ben |last2=Fritz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919024811/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/11/long-time-disney-video-game-chief-graham-hopper-latest-to-exit-interactive-group.html |archive-date=19 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
DIS in October 2012 announced "Toy Box", a cross platform gaming initiative where Pixar and Disney characters will interact from a console game to multiple mobile and online applications.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|last=Barnes|first=Brooks|title=Disney, Struggling to Find Its Digital Footing, Overhauls Disney.com|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/22/business/media/disney-struggling-to-find-its-digital-footing-overhauls-disneycom.html?_r=0|access-date=23 October 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025000915/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/22/business/media/disney-struggling-to-find-its-digital-footing-overhauls-disneycom.html?_r=0|archive-date=25 October 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The first Toy Box cross platform game is ''Disney Infinity'' based on the ''Toy Story 3'' game's Toy Box mode crossed with a toy line.<ref name="bw">{{cite news |last=Lang |first=Derrik J. |title=Disney unveils own 'Skylanders'-like franchise |url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2013-01-15/disney-unveils-own-skylanders-like-franchise |access-date=30 January 2013 |newspaper=Business Week |date=January 15, 2013 |agency=AP |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225175820/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2013-01-15/disney-unveils-own-skylanders-like-franchise |archive-date=25 February 2013 }}</ref>
After the purchase of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney Company in 2012, Disney Interactive assumed the role of developing ''Star Wars'' games for the casual gaming market, while Electronic Arts would develop ''Star Wars'' games for the core gaming market through an exclusive license (although LucasArts did retain the ability to license ''Star Wars'' games to other developers for the casual gaming market).<ref>{{cite web|title=ELECTRONIC ARTS SELECTED FOR MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT FOR THE FUTURE OF STAR WARS GAMING|url=http://starwars.com/news/electronic-arts-selected-for-multi-year-agreement-for-the-future-of-star-wars-gaming.html|work=Lucasfilm|publisher=Star Wars.com|access-date=6 May 2013|quote=While EA studios will develop for the core Star Wars gaming audience, Disney Interactive will focus on delivering new Star Wars games for casual audiences on mobile, social, tablet, and online gaming platforms.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507090248/http://starwars.com/news/electronic-arts-selected-for-multi-year-agreement-for-the-future-of-star-wars-gaming.html|archive-date=7 May 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Walt Disney Company and EA Announce Multi-Year Star Wars Games Agreement|url=http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/05/06/2670385/the-walt-disney-company-and-ea.html|access-date=6 May 2013|newspaper=Fort Mill Times|date=6 May 2013}}</ref>
At E3 2013, Disney and Square Enix released a teaser trailer for ''Kingdom Hearts III'', after going seven years of not declaring any console ''Kingdom Hearts'' game since ''Kingdom Hearts II''. The game would release nearly six years later in January 2019.
Disney Interactive Studios has lost more than $200 million per year from 2008 to 2012<ref name=as>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Daniel|title=Disney Interactive expected to begin layoffs|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-disney-interactive-expected-to-begin-layoffs-20140203,0,4272150.story|access-date=5 February 2014|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=3 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205035924/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-disney-interactive-expected-to-begin-layoffs-20140203,0,4272150.story|archive-date=5 February 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> during a period in which it shut down Canadian game development studio Propaganda Games,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/propaganda-games-shuttered/|title=Propaganda Games shuttered|access-date=2011-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118190037/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/propaganda-games-shuttered/|archive-date=2012-11-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> British developer Black Rock Studio<ref name=egn>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-07-01-split-second-dev-black-rock-to-close|title=Split/Second dev Black Rock to close|first=Robert|last=Purchese|website=Eurogamer|date=1 July 2011|access-date=2 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224102430/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-07-01-split-second-dev-black-rock-to-close|archive-date=December 24, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and Austin-based game developing unit Junction Point Studios<ref name=wt>{{cite news|last=Lang|first=Derrik J.|title=Disney closing 'Epic Mickey' video game developer|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/29/disney-closing-epic-mickey-video-game-developer/|access-date=30 January 2013|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=January 29, 2013|agency=AP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105203234/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/29/disney-closing-epic-mickey-video-game-developer/|archive-date=5 November 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and its co-president John Pleasants stepped down in November 2013 after the launch of ''Disney Infinity''.<ref name=as />
===2014–2016: Decline and dissolution=== On March 6, 2014, 700 employees were laid off.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-06-disney-interactive-lays-off-700-staff|title=Disney Interactive lays off 700 staff|last=Matulef|first=Jeffrey|date=6 March 2014|work=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=7 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307110057/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-06-disney-interactive-lays-off-700-staff|archive-date=7 March 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> After the cancellation of ''Disney Infinity'', Disney Interactive Studios closed in 2016.<ref name="ign">{{cite news|last1=Macy|first1=Seth G.|title=Disney Cancels Infinity, No Longer Self-Publishing Games|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/10/disney-cancels-infinity-no-longer-self-publishing-games|access-date=May 10, 2016|work=IGN|date=May 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405140550/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/10/disney-cancels-infinity-no-longer-self-publishing-games|archive-date=April 5, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
==List of games== {{Main|List of Disney Interactive Studios games}} The company also publishes games from ''Q Entertainment'' worldwide except Asia: ''Lumines II'', the sequel to the puzzle game for the PSP system; ''Lumines Plus'', a new version of ''Lumines'' for the PlayStation 2;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/lumines-plus/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Lumines Plus |date=27 February 2007 |access-date=18 September 2018 |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923172812/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/lumines-plus |archive-date=23 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> ''Every Extend Extra'', a puzzle shooter;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/every-extend-extra-review/1900-6162418/ |title=Every Extend Extra Review |first=Ryan |last=Davis |date=28 November 2006 |access-date=18 September 2018 |work=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708104150/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/every-extend-extra-review/1900-6162418/ |archive-date=8 July 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and a Disney Interactive Studios's ''Meteos: Disney Edition'', the popular ''Meteos'' game for the Nintendo DS with Disney characters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/games/meteos-disney-magic |title=Meteos: Disney Magic |date=27 February 2007 |access-date=18 September 2018 |work=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis, LLC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918231253/https://www.ign.com/games/meteos-disney-magic |archive-date=18 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2007/04/meteos_disney_magic_ds |title=Meteos: Disney Magic Review (DS) |first=Damien |last=McFerran |date=20 April 2007 |access-date=18 September 2018 |work=Nintendo Life |publisher=Gamer Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919024853/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2007/04/meteos_disney_magic_ds |archive-date=19 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
The company revealed a lineup of games at E3 2006, which include DIE's ''Turok'', a re-imagining of the video game series of the same name and ''Desperate Housewives: The Game'', based on the hit television show.
Disney Interactive Studios is credited in all entries to the ''Kingdom Hearts'' franchise, with the original release box art of each entry to the series having different logos and name of the company seeing as coincidentally, the company is re-branded in between the releases. Notably however, the company is not credited to actually developing the game.<ref>http://na.square-enix.com/games/kingdomhearts/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128123500/http://na.square-enix.com/games/kingdomhearts/ |date=2012-01-28 }} -- © Disney. Developed by SQUARE ENIX.</ref>
==Studios== === Moved to Disney Interactive === *Disney Mobile *Disney Online
===Former/defunct=== *Avalanche Software, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Acquired April 2005.<ref name=gpt1/> Shut down May 2016.<ref name="ign"/> Later re-opened and sold to Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment in January 2017. *Black Rock Studio, based in Brighton, England. Founded in 1998, acquired in September 2006<ref name=gpt/> and closed in July 2011.<ref name=egn/> *Creature Feep, founded in 2009, closed in 2015. *Fall Line Studios, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Founded in 2006, merged into Avalanche Software in 2009.<ref name=gpt1/> *Gamestar, based in China. Acquired February 2009, defunct.<ref name="cbs" /> *Junction Point Studios, based in Austin, Texas. Acquired July 2007.<ref name=lat/> Shut down in January 2013.<ref name=wt/> *Propaganda Games, based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in April 2005, closed in January 2011. *Playdom, based in Palo Alto, California. Founded in December 2008, acquired in July 2010, closed in 2016. *Rocket Pack, based in Helsinki, Finland. Founded in 2010, acquired in 2011, closed in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kauppalehti|title=Rocket Pack Oy {{!}} Yritys- ja taloustiedot {{!}} Kauppalehti|url=https://www.kauppalehti.fi/yritykset/yritys/rocket+pack+oy/23221869|access-date=2021-01-02|website=Tärkeimmät talousuutiset {{!}} Kauppalehti|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/disney-buys-browser-game-engine-dev-rocketpack | title=Disney buys browser game engine dev Rocket Pack | date=March 7, 2011 }}</ref> *Wideload Games, based in Chicago, Illinois. Acquired September 8, 2009. Shut down March 6, 2014.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DisneyConsumer|state=collapsed}} {{Disney}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1988 establishments in California Category:2016 disestablishments in California Category:Companies based in Glendale, California Category:Defunct video game companies based in Greater Los Angeles Category:Disney Interactive Category:Disney video games Category:Former subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2016 Category:Video game companies established in 1988 Category:Video game development companies Category:Video game publishers