Editing Disney Interactive Studios (section)

==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 (1988 video game)|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 (video game)|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 (video game)|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 (SNES video game)|Aladdin]]'' and ''[[The Lion King (video game)|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===
[[File:Disney Interactive 1995.svg|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#Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications|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 reduced its staff by 20%, effectively ending all in-house video game production.<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> This increased the requests for licensing from third-party games companies. Under this plan, 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/> A thirteen-game agreement was made between Nintendo of America and Disney Interactive in 1999 for both the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color.<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>

In May 2001, the company signed a deal with [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony Computer Entertainment]] to allow the latter to publish titles based on ''[[Atlantis: The Lost Empire]]'', ''[[Monsters, Inc.]]'', ''[[Treasure Planet]]'', ''[[Lilo & Stitch]]'', and ''[[Return to Never Land|Peter Pan: Return to Never Land]]'' on the [[PlayStation (console)|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>

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>

===2003–2007: Buena Vista Games===
In 2003, Disney announced in their 2003 strategic review that they would re-enter the core publishing market and rebranded 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 Vancouver|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 [[Black Rock Studio|Climax Racing]] from the [[Climax Studios|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>{{cite news |first=Andy |last=Fixmer |title=Disney to Drop Buena Vista Brand Name, People Say |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a0MG17nO.PG8&refer=home |date=April 25, 2007 |access-date=August 8, 2007 |work=Bloomberg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930073847/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a0MG17nO.PG8&refer=home |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</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, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[ESPN]], and [[Touchstone Pictures|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#Interactive Media Group|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 (video game)|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 game|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 [[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> [[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 [[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>