- Not to be confused with Avalanche Studios
| This article might be using a American English for its pagename. (September 2020) |
Avalanche Software is an American video game developer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was founded in October 1995 by four programmers formerly of Sculptured Software, including John Blackburn, who serves as chief executive officer. The studio was acquired by the games arm of The Walt Disney Company in May 2005, and spent the next ten years developing Disney-related titles, including the toys-to-life game Disney Infinity (2013). In May 2016, due to a declining toys-to-life games market, Disney decided to close the games arm, including Avalanche Software. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment acquired the studio and re-opened it in January 2017.
History[]
Avalanche Software was founded by four programmers formerly of Sculptured Software, including John Blackburn.[1][2] After Sculptured Software had been acquired by Acclaim Entertainment, the four had been in contact with another former Sculptured Software staffer who left the year prior for Saffire. The four were interested in joining Saffire, which was seeking programmers for an upcoming project, but did not want to commute to the company's offices in Pleasant Grove. Instead, Saffire's owner convinced them to start their own company.[3] Subsequently, Blackburn and his acquaintances established Avalanche Software in October 1995, with Blackburn becoming the company's president.[1]
On April 19, 2005, Buena Vista Games (later called Disney Interactive Studios), the video game publishing arm of The Walt Disney Company, announced that it had acquired Avalanche Software to undisclosed terms.[4] Buena Vista Games established a sister studio to Avalanche Software, Fall Line Studio, in November 2006.[5] The studio was merged into Avalanche Software in January 2009.[6] In January 2013, Avalanche Software unveiled the toys-to-life cross-platform game Disney Infinity.[7] On May 10, 2016, due to a lack of growth in the toys-to-life market and increasing development costs, Disney discontinued Disney Infinity and closed down Disney Interactive Studios, including Avalanche Software.[8] Many former Avalanche Software workers were hired by castAR to create a new studio in Salt Lake City.[9] On January 24, 2017, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced that it had acquired and re-opened the studio, with Blackburn returning as its chief executive officer. The studio's first title under the new ownership was Cars 3: Driven to Win.[10] It is set to release its first Disney-independent title since 25 to Life and after the acquisition, Hogwarts Legacy, in 2022, which was announced at the PlayStation 5 event in September 2020. It will be released for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.[11]
Hogwarts Legacy is scheduled to be released in 2022 as Avalanche Software's first Disney-independent game since it was acquired by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The open-world action role-playing game is to be published by the publisher Portkey Games, which also belongs to Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game was officially announced as part of the PlayStation 5 Showcase on September 16, 2020 and was subsequently named "Star of the Evening" by the daily newspaper Die Welt.[12][13]
Games developed[]
| Year | Title | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 | Sega Genesis, Super NES |
| Mortal Kombat Trilogy | PlayStation | |
| 2 on 2 Open Ice Challenge | ||
| 1997 | Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero | Nintendo 64 |
| 1998 | Off Road Challenge | |
| 1999 | Rampage 2: Universal Tour | PlayStation, Nintendo 64 |
| 2000 | Rampage Through Time | PlayStation |
| Rugrats in Paris: The Movie | PlayStation, Nintendo 64 | |
| Prince of Persia: Arabian Nights | Dreamcast | |
| 2002 | NCAA College Football 2K3 | GameCube, Xbox |
| Rugrats: Royal Ransom | GameCube, PlayStation 2 | |
| 2003 | Tak and the Power of Juju | |
| 2004 | Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox |
| 2005 | Tak: The Great Juju Challenge | |
| Dragon Ball Z: Sagas | ||
| Chicken Little | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows | |
| 2006 | 25 to Life | PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows |
| Chicken Little: Ace in Action | PlayStation 2, Wii, Microsoft Windows | |
| 2007 | Meet the Robinsons | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Wii, Microsoft Windows |
| 2007 | Hannah Montana: Spotlight World Tour | PlayStation 2, Wii |
| 2008 | Bolt | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Microsoft Windows |
| 2010 | Toy Story 3 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X |
| 2011 | Cars 2 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X |
| 2013 | Disney Infinity | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U, Microsoft Windows, iOS |
| 2014 | Disney Infinity 2.0 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android |
| 2015 | Disney Infinity 3.0 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android, Apple TV |
| 2017 | Cars 3: Driven to Win | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, Nintendo Switch |
| 2022 | Hogwarts Legacy | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kratz, Greg (April 20, 2005). "Disney branch buys Salt Lake game developer". https://www.deseret.com/2005/4/20/19888061/disney-branch-buys-salt-lake-game-developer.
- ↑ "Avalanche Software Biography". 2001. http://www.avalanchesoftware.com/company.html.
- ↑ Sheehan, Gavin (August 17, 2011). "Avalanche Software". https://www.cityweekly.net/BuzzBlog/archives/2011/08/17/avalanche-software.
- ↑ Kawamoto, Dawn (April 19, 2005). "Disney scoops up Avalanche, founds new studio". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/disney-scoops-up-avalanche-founds-new-studio/1100-6122500/.
- ↑ "Disney to make Nintendo games". November 8, 2006. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-nov-08-fi-disney8-story.html.
- ↑ Sinclair, Brendan (January 29, 2009). "Disney layoffs hit Turok, Bolt studios". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/disney-layoffs-hit-turok-bolt-studios/1100-6203898/.
- ↑ Lang, Derrik J. (January 15, 2013). "Disney unveils own 'Skylanders'-like franchise". https://phys.org/news/2013-01-disney-unveils-skylanders-like-franchise.html.
- ↑ Alexander, Julia (May 10, 2016). "Disney is ending its Infinity video game line, shutting down Avalanche Software". https://www.polygon.com/2016/5/10/11652866/disney-infinity-ending.
- ↑ Conditt, Jessica (September 15, 2016). "Augmented reality studio castAR picks up 'Disney Infinity' devs". https://www.engadget.com/2016-09-15-augmented-reality-studio-castar-picks-up-disney-infinity-devs.html.
- ↑ McAloon, Alissa (January 24, 2017). "Disney Infinity dev revived and re-opened by Warner Bros.". https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/289935/Disney_Infinity_dev_revived_and_reopened_by_Warner_Bros.php.
- ↑ Dornbush, Jonathon (September 16, 2020). "Harry Potter RPG Hogwarts Legacy Announced, Confirmed for PS5". https://www.ign.com/articles/ps5-harry-potter-rpg.
- ↑ Gehm, Florian. "PlayStation 5 Showcase: Hogwarts Legacy ist der Star der Sony-Präsentation", DIE WELT, 2020-09-17. (in de)
- ↑ Uslenghi, Fabiano. "Harry Potter: Open-World-Rollenspiel Hogwarts Legacy kommt für den PC", GameStar, 2020-09-17. (in de-DE)
External links[]
Template:Avalanche Software
| v - e - d | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founders | Jack L. Warner • Harry Warner • Albert Warner • Sam Warner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Films and franchise |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warner Bros. Pictures Group | Warner Bros. Pictures • New Line Cinema • Movie Land Entertainment • Movie Land Animation Studios • DC Films • Castle Rock Entertainment • Flagship Entertainment (joint venture with CMC) • WaterTower Music | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warner Bros. Home Entertainment | Warner Home Video (Warner Archive Collection) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | Avalanche Software • Monolith Productions • NetherRealm Studios • Portkey Games • Rocksteady Studios • TT Games (Traveller's Tales) • WB Games Boston • WB Games Montréal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warner Bros. Television Group | Alloy Entertainment • Eyeworks • Telepictures • Movie Land Television • Warner Bros. Television • Warner Bros. International Television • Warner Bros. International Television Production (WB TV Productions UK (Shed Productions)
TV channels: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Global Kids and Young Adults |
Boing (Africa • France • Italy • Spain) • Cartoonito (UK & Ireland • Italy) • Toonami • Pogo • Tooncast Production: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warner Bros. Digital Networks | DramaFever (shuttered) • DC Universe • TMZ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DC Entertainment | DC Comics (Mad • Vertigo) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Otter Media | Ellation (Crunchyroll • VRV • Rooster Teeth • Ellation Studios) • Fullscreen (Machinima) • Gunpowder & Sky • Hello Sunshine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Others | Fandango (30%) • Hanna-Barbera • Turner Entertainment • Wang Film Productions • Warner Bros. Feature Animation • Warner Bros. Studio Tours | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Template:Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment



