Empire Interactive’s recent claim to hold the trademark and select intellectual property rights of The 3DO Company has reignited debate over ownership of legacy 1990s and early-2000s game assets.
The claim appeared in a LinkedIn post by a relaunch of Empire Interactive and was reported and updated on June 29, 2026 after responses from multiple industry parties, including Throwback Entertainment and former Limited Run Games CEO Josh Fairhurst.
Background
The 3DO Company entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2003, and rights to its software and brand were dispersed over the following years.
Empire Interactive, a UK publisher that filed for administration in 2009, has a fragmented catalogue and limited wholly owned IP (its best-known owned series, FlatOut, was sold prior to the company’s collapse).
What was announced
Empire’s LinkedIn post stated the company had acquired the trademark and select rights to The 3DO Company and planned to “re-establish 3DO as an independent game company” with remasters and new projects.
The relaunch of Empire Interactive is being led publicly by Işık Şekercigil, who identifies as the company founder on LinkedIn.
Rewritten journalistic statements
- On his background and motives: Şekercigil said he is a dual Turkish-British citizen who has worked in the mobile gaming sector and described himself as a lifelong retro gaming enthusiast.
He told reporters he shifted focus from mobile to console and PC because he believes many mobile titles lack narrative depth and lasting cultural value compared with traditional console and PC releases.
He said his team researched dormant brands with emotional resonance and targeted Empire Interactive and 3DO as priorities.
- On Empire’s revival and IP approach: Şekercigil said Empire acquired brand assets via a legal firm and that the company intends to operate as an active AA developer-publisher while also negotiating rights for specific 3DO-era titles.
He acknowledged their corporate website contained placeholder text referencing a "2024 accolade," which he attributed to an uncleaned website template that is being revised.
Responses and disputes
Throwback Entertainment issued a statement asserting that the 3DO trademark, associated designs, and the 3DO.com domain are owned by Throwback and have not been sold, transferred, or licensed to Empire Interactive.
Josh Fairhurst said he had spoken with the owner of the 3DO trademark and was told those rights have not changed hands; Fairhurst added he now believes Empire’s announcement is either not legitimate or will be contested.
Antstream Arcade CEO Steve Cottam reacted positively to the initial post but has not provided further verification of ownership changes.
What is verified
- The 3DO Company declared bankruptcy in 2003.
- Empire Interactive entered administration in 2009 and its catalogue has been fragmented since.
- Throwback Entertainment publicly claims ownership of the 3DO trademark and related assets.
- Industry figures including Josh Fairhurst have stated they were not aware of any transfer of 3DO rights.
Next steps and context
Multiple parties are now publicly disputing or querying the claim.
Ownership of legacy game brands is often legally complex; news outlets and rights holders commonly verify registrations, domain records, and chain-of-title before confirming transfers.
Retro re-releases and remasters historically appear across PC storefronts and console eShops—platforms such as the Nintendo Switch eShop frequently host retro compilations—though no verified platform plans have been announced by Empire or 3DO representatives as of the June 29, 2026 update.
This article was updated following responses from Empire Interactive’s Işık Şekercigil, Throwback Entertainment, and Josh Fairhurst.
Further confirmation from trademark registries or legal filings would be required to establish definitive ownership of The 3DO Company assets.
The claim appeared in a LinkedIn post by a relaunch of Empire Interactive and was reported and updated on June 29, 2026 after responses from multiple industry parties, including Throwback Entertainment and former Limited Run Games CEO Josh Fairhurst.
Background
The 3DO Company entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2003, and rights to its software and brand were dispersed over the following years.
Empire Interactive, a UK publisher that filed for administration in 2009, has a fragmented catalogue and limited wholly owned IP (its best-known owned series, FlatOut, was sold prior to the company’s collapse).
What was announced
Empire’s LinkedIn post stated the company had acquired the trademark and select rights to The 3DO Company and planned to “re-establish 3DO as an independent game company” with remasters and new projects.
The relaunch of Empire Interactive is being led publicly by Işık Şekercigil, who identifies as the company founder on LinkedIn.
Rewritten journalistic statements
- On his background and motives: Şekercigil said he is a dual Turkish-British citizen who has worked in the mobile gaming sector and described himself as a lifelong retro gaming enthusiast.
He told reporters he shifted focus from mobile to console and PC because he believes many mobile titles lack narrative depth and lasting cultural value compared with traditional console and PC releases.
He said his team researched dormant brands with emotional resonance and targeted Empire Interactive and 3DO as priorities.
- On Empire’s revival and IP approach: Şekercigil said Empire acquired brand assets via a legal firm and that the company intends to operate as an active AA developer-publisher while also negotiating rights for specific 3DO-era titles.
He acknowledged their corporate website contained placeholder text referencing a "2024 accolade," which he attributed to an uncleaned website template that is being revised.
Responses and disputes
Throwback Entertainment issued a statement asserting that the 3DO trademark, associated designs, and the 3DO.com domain are owned by Throwback and have not been sold, transferred, or licensed to Empire Interactive.
Josh Fairhurst said he had spoken with the owner of the 3DO trademark and was told those rights have not changed hands; Fairhurst added he now believes Empire’s announcement is either not legitimate or will be contested.
Antstream Arcade CEO Steve Cottam reacted positively to the initial post but has not provided further verification of ownership changes.
What is verified
- The 3DO Company declared bankruptcy in 2003.
- Empire Interactive entered administration in 2009 and its catalogue has been fragmented since.
- Throwback Entertainment publicly claims ownership of the 3DO trademark and related assets.
- Industry figures including Josh Fairhurst have stated they were not aware of any transfer of 3DO rights.
Next steps and context
Multiple parties are now publicly disputing or querying the claim.
Ownership of legacy game brands is often legally complex; news outlets and rights holders commonly verify registrations, domain records, and chain-of-title before confirming transfers.
Retro re-releases and remasters historically appear across PC storefronts and console eShops—platforms such as the Nintendo Switch eShop frequently host retro compilations—though no verified platform plans have been announced by Empire or 3DO representatives as of the June 29, 2026 update.
This article was updated following responses from Empire Interactive’s Işık Şekercigil, Throwback Entertainment, and Josh Fairhurst.
Further confirmation from trademark registries or legal filings would be required to establish definitive ownership of The 3DO Company assets.
