The Interplay comeback continues as the company reported $6 million in net revenues for 2007 as well as a two-pronged plan for future growth.
The company’s revenues for the year ended December 31, 2007 came primarily through the sale of the Fallout IP to Bethesda Softworks, which is currently developing Fallout 3. The amount is a 520 percent increase over the 2006 period, and represents $.059 per basic share, compared with $.032 per basic share in the previous year.
Interplay reported that it is continuing to secure funding for a Fallout-based MMOG, which it plans to develop via licensing agreement with Bethesda which was part of the conditions of the Fallout IP sale. The company is also planning sequels to some of its “most successful” games, including Earthworm Jim, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, Descent and MDK. Interplay is now hiring developers for its recently revived in-house development studio.
“2007 set the foundation for our growth strategy,” said Interplay CEO Herve Caen. “Going forward, we have the vision, unique intellectual property and low debt and operational costs to help us pursue financing for our various projects. Our new website will streamline our ability to communicate development progress with the public, share brand information with the fans and support our customers.”
Founded in 1983 by Brian Fargo, Interplay made a splash in the early days of PC gaming with titles like The Bard’s Tale, Wasteland and Battle Chess, eventually becoming a publisher for other studios as well as a developer. Interplay continued to do well in the 90s, publishing hits like Descent, Fallout and the Baldur’s Gate franchise, but fell on hard times after going public in 1998. In 2002, Interplay was delisted from the Nasdaq, and in 2004 the company was evicted from its offices and forced to close down its remaining development studios due to inability to pay its employees.
