Empire Interactive has posted that it “holds the trademark and select intellectual property rights of The 3DO Company,” announcing a relaunch of the Empire brand and plans to revive 3DO as an active game company.
The new statement follows a LinkedIn post that prompted industry reaction and renewed scrutiny of the legal status of several legacy 3DO properties.
Empire Interactive had been inactive as a publisher since 2009, and The 3DO Company declared bankruptcy in 2003, leaving many 3DO-era rights fragmented across multiple owners.
Industry responses were swift.
Josh Fairhurst, former CEO of Limited Run Games, replied to the LinkedIn announcement offering licensing opportunities for 3DO-era titles such as Night Trap, Sewer Shark, Corpse Killer, Quarterback Attack and Supreme Warrior.
Antstream Arcade CEO Steve Cottam called the news “great,” noting his affection for the brand.
Empire’s relaunch is led publicly by Işık Şekercigil, who identifies himself as a dual Turkish and British citizen residing in the UK. Şekercigil told reporters he comes from a modern mobile-game background rather than the retro era, and that his mobile teams participated in companies that achieved multi-million and billion-dollar valuations.
He said his move from mobile to PC and console stems from a desire to pursue projects with longer cultural impact: he argued mobile products often prioritise rapid production and monetisation, while PC and console titles can leave lasting legacies.
On acquisition mechanics, Şekercigil said Empire acquired the 3DO trademark and legal rights through a law firm and that the purchase focused on brand assets rather than an intact portfolio of IP.
He noted Empire’s original owned IP was limited — FlatOut, for example, was sold years earlier — and that many historical publishing rights were temporary or held by external studios, leaving the overall 3DO catalogue legally fragmented.
Empire has announced Simoria as its first title under the revived structure and says it aims to operate as an AA developer and publisher moving forward.
The company acknowledged its public website contains placeholder content — including an unintended “2024 Best Agency” mention — and said those pages are being updated.
Şekercigil also stated the company is in active negotiations regarding “one of the major, historic 3DO properties” and that several niche rights-holders have contacted Empire to discuss licensing.
He added that hardware rights are legally complex and that any plans for retro or modern hardware would take years to materialise.
For now, Empire’s claims and negotiations remain the central developments as the industry watches whether the 3DO brand will be reconstituted through remasters, new AA titles, or licensed releases on modern storefronts such as the Nintendo eShop or platforms including Nintendo Switch and PC.
The new statement follows a LinkedIn post that prompted industry reaction and renewed scrutiny of the legal status of several legacy 3DO properties.
Empire Interactive had been inactive as a publisher since 2009, and The 3DO Company declared bankruptcy in 2003, leaving many 3DO-era rights fragmented across multiple owners.
Industry responses were swift.
Josh Fairhurst, former CEO of Limited Run Games, replied to the LinkedIn announcement offering licensing opportunities for 3DO-era titles such as Night Trap, Sewer Shark, Corpse Killer, Quarterback Attack and Supreme Warrior.
Antstream Arcade CEO Steve Cottam called the news “great,” noting his affection for the brand.
Empire’s relaunch is led publicly by Işık Şekercigil, who identifies himself as a dual Turkish and British citizen residing in the UK. Şekercigil told reporters he comes from a modern mobile-game background rather than the retro era, and that his mobile teams participated in companies that achieved multi-million and billion-dollar valuations.
He said his move from mobile to PC and console stems from a desire to pursue projects with longer cultural impact: he argued mobile products often prioritise rapid production and monetisation, while PC and console titles can leave lasting legacies.
On acquisition mechanics, Şekercigil said Empire acquired the 3DO trademark and legal rights through a law firm and that the purchase focused on brand assets rather than an intact portfolio of IP.
He noted Empire’s original owned IP was limited — FlatOut, for example, was sold years earlier — and that many historical publishing rights were temporary or held by external studios, leaving the overall 3DO catalogue legally fragmented.
Empire has announced Simoria as its first title under the revived structure and says it aims to operate as an AA developer and publisher moving forward.
The company acknowledged its public website contains placeholder content — including an unintended “2024 Best Agency” mention — and said those pages are being updated.
Şekercigil also stated the company is in active negotiations regarding “one of the major, historic 3DO properties” and that several niche rights-holders have contacted Empire to discuss licensing.
He added that hardware rights are legally complex and that any plans for retro or modern hardware would take years to materialise.
For now, Empire’s claims and negotiations remain the central developments as the industry watches whether the 3DO brand will be reconstituted through remasters, new AA titles, or licensed releases on modern storefronts such as the Nintendo eShop or platforms including Nintendo Switch and PC.
