Dan Malone Not Involved in Rebellion’s Speedball Reboot: Bitmap Brothers’ Legacy in Focus

Rebellion’s much-anticipated Speedball reboot has entered Early Access on Steam, rekindling interest in one of the most iconic franchises from British developer The Bitmap Brothers.

However, fans of the original’s legendary aesthetic may be disappointed to hear that Dan Malone—the celebrated artist responsible for defining the visual style of Speedball 2 and The Chaos Engine—has not been involved with this new iteration. Dan Malone’s tenure at The Bitmap Brothers, from 1989 to 1995, was instrumental in crafting the studio’s distinctive look.

His work on titles such as Speedball 2 ensured that the games stood out graphically, earning The Bitmap Brothers a reputation for compelling art direction during the Amiga era.

Malone has previously revisited his Bitmap Brothers roots by contributing concept art for proposed sequels and participating in retrospectives, such as The Bitmap Brothers: Universe and Odyssey. Despite this deep legacy and continued activity within the games industry—which includes collaborations with major names like EA, Sony, System 3, and Revolution Software—Malone confirmed to Time Extension that he had no input in Rebellion’s new Speedball project.

“I didn’t contribute anything at all to the reboot,” he stated.

"I only discovered the project existed fairly recently.

The current development team likely has plenty of in-house talent eager to tackle it, leaving little role for original designers or artists." Malone expressed acceptance of his position outside the current project, referencing past sequels where he was similarly uninvolved.

He recalls, “This has happened before with post-Speedball 2 entries—I wasn’t brought into those either, except providing a few drawings for Speedball 3, which didn’t see release.

I suppose I’ve just become accustomed to it.

It doesn’t mean I’m entirely comfortable with the situation, but as an artist, there’s only so much influence you have once a property changes hands.” Industry observers and longtime fans may note the absence of Malone’s signature gritty style in the reboot.

While the new Speedball is visually impressive and technically polished, many believe that the franchise’s distinct identity owes much to Malone’s original work—an element some find lacking in Rebellion’s latest approach. Rebellion’s Speedball marks another high-profile attempt to revive Amiga-era classics for contemporary audiences.

Its Early Access release on Steam positions it ahead of a possible wider launch, with fans watching closely to see how the spirit of the Bitmap Brothers’ original is retained or reimagined.

The situation also underscores the ongoing conversation about honoring the creative architects behind gaming’s most resonant properties, even as new teams push these legacies forward. As the Speedball reboot evolves through Early Access, all eyes remain on whether the enduring qualities of The Bitmap Brothers’ originals will shine through—and whether further recognition might be given to foundational talents like Dan Malone as the game approaches its full release.

Steam Early Access Dan Malone The Bitmap Brothers Rebellion Speedball Speedball 2 Time Extension EA Sony System 3 Pepsi Revolution Software HotGen The Bitmap Brothers: Universe The Bitmap Brothers: Odyssey Speedball 3 Bitmap Brothers