Interplay co-founder expresses interest in buying the studio back

Since parting ways with Interplay in 2000, Brian Fargo has gone on to create development studio inXile Entertainment and blockchain-based digital games storefront Robot Cache. Now, the developer has expressed his interest in buying back Interplay Entertainment, providing his latest game does well enough.

Brian Fargo founded Interplay Productions in 1983, helping to publish and create renowned titles like Baldur’s Gate, Fallout and Earthworm Jim until his departure in 2000. Taking the rights to The Bard’s Tale and Wasteland with him, Fargo created inXile Entertainment in 2002, going on to produce sequels to the beloved series.

The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep enjoyed a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in 2015, achieving numerous stretch goals, including an enhanced companion NPC system, crafting system and four new dungeons each designed by a different member of the team. Celebrating its launch today, September 18th, Fargo has added another unofficial stretch goal via Twitter.

I'm asked what would we do if Bard's Tale 4 PC is a big hit.

How about this stretch goal. I will attempt to buy Interplay back if we manage to sell over 2 million units in the first 18 months.

@wouldntthatbeawesome

— Brian Fargo (@BrianFargo) September 17, 2018

“I'm asked what would we do if Bard's Tale 4 PC is a big hit,” says Fargo on his official Twitter. “How about this stretch goal. I will attempt to buy Interplay back if we manage to sell over 2 million units in the first 18 months.”

If successful, “tons” of IPs would flow into Fargo’s grasp, including Dragon Wars, Earthworm Jim, Sacrifice and Kingpin. Responses on Twitter seem particularly interested in a sequel to space simulator, Descent. “My fans have been requesting me to bring back my old Interplay games for years,” Fargo said in an interview with Variety. “This would be the most amazing way to make that happen.”

This is sure to spark a debate during Fargo’s AMA session taking place on Wednesday 19th September at 9am. Fargo didn’t clarify which time zone this would be taking place in, or on which platform, however it’s presumed to be taking place on Twitter or inXile's Twitch.

KitGuru Says: In the meantime, Fargo and inXile have their hands full with Wasteland 3 after its successful crowdfunding campaign on Fig. Personally, I’d quite like to see another Earthworm Jim out of that roster. How about you?

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