1988–1994: Walt Disney Computer Software
Disney established its own in house gaming unit,[1] Walt Disney Computer Software, Inc. (WDCS), and it was incorporated on September 15, 1988.[2] WDCS generally used third-party development studios to design spin-off games using its existing portfolio of characters. WDCS failed to meet the high expectations that came with the Disney name, although three of its self-published computer titles – Mickey's Runaway Zoo, Donald's Alphabet Chase and Who Framed Roger Rabbit – sold more than 100,000 copies, the industry equivalent of earning a Gold Record.[3] The underlying issues were later attributed by senior Disney executives as being due to low product quality and lack of understanding of the differences between film and games.[4]
WDCS also published a series of Nintendo (NES) and Gameboy platform game titles with Japanese video game company Capcom. Of these titles, 1989's DuckTales received the most commercial and critical success, selling approximately 1.67 million and 1.43 million copies worldwide respectively, each becoming Capcom's highest-selling titles for their respective platforms.[5] Produced by founding WDCS producer Darlene Waddington, DuckTales' Gameboy version was named "Gameboy Game of the Year" by PC Player Magazine.[6] DuckTales continues to be considered a game with high nostalgic interest[7] and was remade in 2013 as DuckTales: Remastered.[8]
Following DuckTales, WDCS developed and published another NES platform game with Capcom, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers. Rescue Rangers proved to be a commercial success, selling approximately 1.2 million copies worldwide, becoming Capcom's fourth highest-selling game for the Nintendo Entertainment System.[9] Continuing with the success of these titles, Disney continued to find success with another Capcom developed title, Aladdin and The Lion King (developed by Westwood Studios) in 1993 and 1994 respectively. This led to a move from self-developed and self-published to funding and development management of games with third parties published the game.[4]
1994–2002: Disney Interactive
Using the film studio style formula, WDCS was reorganized into Disney Interactive, Inc. (DI)[4] on December 5, 1994, with the merging of WDCS and Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications.[10][11][12][13][14]
On April 15, 1997, Disney Interactive announced it would exit the in-house video game market and reduce its staff by 20%.[15] The company would instead license out Disney properties to third-party developers and publishers, of which the development and production cost risks were transferred to the game companies but reduced the per-unit revenue generated to Disney and effectively yielded a near 100% margin of licensed game sales.
2003–2007: Buena Vista Games
In 2003, The Walt Disney Company announced that it would fully re-enter the self-publishing and core gaming markets, rebranding Disney Interactive, Inc. as Buena Vista Games, Inc. (BVG) The Disney Interactive and Buena Vista Interactive brands were retained as publishing labels for children's and core titles, respectively.[4]
On April 19, 2005, Buena Vista Games announced that they had entered the game development market. The company formed Propaganda Games, based in Vancouver, British Columbia; which was made up of former employees at EA Canada, and purchased Avalanche Software in Salt Lake City, Utah for an undisclosed amount.[28] On May 13, 2005, the company announced they had acquired the video game rights to the Turok franchise from owners Classic Media; which had been previously held by Acclaim Entertainment.[29]
On April 27, 2006, Buena Vista Games entered into a publishing agreement with Japanese developer
2007–2014: Disney Interactive Studios
On February 8, 2007, The Walt Disney Company renamed Buena Vista Games to Disney Interactive Studios as part of a larger company initiative to phase out the Buena Vista brand that year.[33][34] The studio publishes both Disney and non-Disney branded video games for all platforms worldwide, with titles that feature its consumer brands including Disney, ABC, ESPN, and Touchstone (which is used as a label for Disney). In July 2007, the studio acquired Junction Point Studios.[35]
On June 5, 2008, Disney Interactive Studios and the Walt Disney Internet Group, merged into a single business unit now known as the Disney Interactive Media Group,[36] and it merged its subsidiary
2014–2016: Decline and dissolution
On March 6, 2014, 700 employees were laid off.[50] After the cancellation of Disney Infinity, Disney Interactive Studios closed in 2016.[51]
