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Digital Eclipse

Video game developer · United States · Active

Digital Eclipse

Founded in August 7, 1992

59
games developed
6
games published
0
in development

History of Digital Eclipse

Digital Eclipse was founded in 1992 in Emeryville, California, by Andrew Ayre, Hans Kim, John Neil and Howard Fukuda. It started out as a technology company but soon found its software was useful for games: it built an interpreter that emulated arcade hardware so the games played exactly as they did originally. The result was Joust, Defender and Robotron: 2084 for Mac OS, released in The Digital Arcade series (1995).

The Game Boy Color, whose processor was based on the Zilog Z80 architecture used in many older arcade machines, gave it a niche: it made about 60 games for the handheld, including Klax, Spy Hunter, Paperboy and 720°, plus an original game, Tarzan, for Activision. It also opened a second studio in Vancouver, Canada, and in 2001 announced a move into games for wireless devices.

In 2003 it merged with ImaginEngine to form Backbone Entertainment, and its studios became Backbone Emeryville and Backbone Vancouver. In 2007 Ayre and several former Digital Eclipse staff split off to create Other Ocean Interactive. Backbone Vancouver closed in 2009, and most of the Emeryville staff were laid off in 2012.

In 2015 Other Ocean bought back the name and relaunched Digital Eclipse with Ayre, Mike Mika and Frank Cifaldi, focused on game preservation. Its Eclipse Engine lets it bring old games to modern systems and powered Mega Man Legacy Collection (2015) and The Disney Afternoon Collection (2017). Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration (2022) and The Making of Karateka (2023) followed. Atari SA bought the studio in November 2023, and in 2026 it released Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition.

Milestones

  1. 1992

    Founded in Emeryville, California.

  2. 1995

    The Digital Arcade series for Mac OS.

  3. 2003

    Merges with ImaginEngine to form Backbone Entertainment.

  4. 2007

    Former staff found Other Ocean Interactive.

  5. 2015

    The name returns; Mega Man Legacy Collection.

  6. 2022

    Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration.

  7. 2023

    Atari SA acquires the studio.

Its best-known games

  • Rampage World Tour

    Rampage World Tour

    1997 · Arcade · PS3 · Win Phone

  • Grand Theft Auto Advance

    Grand Theft Auto Advance

    2004 · GBA

  • Spyro: Season of Ice

    Spyro: Season of Ice

    2001 · GBA

  • Spyro 2: Season of Flame

    Spyro 2: Season of Flame

    2002 · GBA

  • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind

    Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind

    2024 · Series X|S · PS4 · PC

  • Rayman Advance

    Rayman Advance

    2001 · WiiU · GBA

  • Army Men II

    Army Men II

    1999 · GBC · PC

  • Disney's Lilo & Stitch

    Disney's Lilo & Stitch

    2002 · GBA

  • Disney's Tarzan

    Disney's Tarzan

    1999 · GBC

  • Space Jam: A New Legacy - The Game

    Space Jam: A New Legacy - The Game

    2021 · XONE

  • Batman: Chaos in Gotham

    Batman: Chaos in Gotham

    2001 · GBC

  • Disney's 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure

    Disney's 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure

    2003 · PS1

Every game it has developed (59)

2026

  • Toy Story 3: Complete Edition Series X|S, PS4, Switch 2, PC

2025

  • Golden Tee Arcade Classics Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5

2024

  • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5
  • Tetris Time Warp Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5
  • Volgarr the Viking II Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5
  • Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5
  • Digital Eclipse Arcade: Q.P.I.D. PC

2023

  • Digital Eclipse Arcade: Jollyball PC
  • Digital Eclipse Arcade: Invasion of the Buffet Snatchers PC
  • The Making of Karateka Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5

2022

  • Touch Me Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5
  • Haunted Houses Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5
  • Neo Breakout PS4, PC, PS5, XONE
  • Yars' Revenge Enhanced Series X|S, PC, PS5, Switch
  • VCTR-SCTR PS4, PC, PS5, XONE
  • Quadratank PS4, PC, PS5, XONE
  • Candy Creeps PC
  • Garbage Pail Kids: Mad Mike and the Quest for Stale Gum PS4, PC, XONE, NES

2021

  • Space Jam: A New Legacy - The Game XONE

2006

  • Frogger X360
  • Kim Possible: Legend of the Monkey's Eye PC, Mac

2005

  • Mortal Kombat
  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory GBA
  • Fantastic Four

2004

  • Grand Theft Auto Advance GBA
  • Nicktoons Basketball PC
  • Spider-Man 2 GBA
  • Tron 2.0: Killer App GBA, Mobile

2003

  • Mucha Lucha! Mascaritas of the Lost Code GBA
  • Dr. Seuss': The Cat in the Hat GBA
  • Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs GBA
  • Disney's 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure PS1

2002

  • Disney's Kim Possible: Revenge of Monkey Fist GBA
  • Disney's Tarzan: Return to the Jungle GBA
  • Spyro 2: Season of Flame GBA
  • Disney's Lilo & Stitch GBA
  • Spider-Man GBA
  • Disney's Pooh and Tigger's Hunny Safari GBC

2001

  • Alienators: Evolution Continues GBA
  • Spyro: Season of Ice GBA
  • X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse GBA
  • Rayman Advance WiiU, GBA
  • X-Men: Wolverine's Rage GBC
  • Batman: Chaos in Gotham GBC
  • Scooby-Doo! Classic Creep Capers GBC
  • Little Nicky GBC

2000

  • Dragon's Lair GBC
  • Disney's 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue GBC
  • NASCAR Racers GBC
  • Alice in Wonderland GBC
  • Dinosaur GBC
  • Army Men GBC

1999

  • Marble Madness GBC
  • Disney's Tarzan GBC
  • Army Men II GBC, PC

1998

  • Rampage World Tour GBC
  • Mortal Kombat 4 GBC

1997

  • Williams Arcade Classics
  • Rampage World Tour Arcade, PS3, Win Phone, N64

Games it has published without developing them (6)