E3: Disney buys Warren Spector

By Robert Purchese Published 13 July, 2007

Well, his Junction Point Studios.

Disney Interactive has splashed out and acquired Warren Spector's Junction Point Studios.

The developer will now work on fresh games and also bring some of Disney's key franchises to next-gen consoles.

But there's no word on what will happen to current Hollywood project Ninja Gold, being made in collaboration with action director John Woo - or the other title his fantasy-author wife is helping him create.

Warren Spector is the brain behind games like Deus Ex, Thief: Deadly Shadows and System Shock - he's kind of a big deal. We caught up with him earlier in the year at the Game Developers Conference where he told us everything was going well, and that Junction Point was now up to 21 staff and counting.

Clearly cartoon champion Disney felt the same sort of excitement, and is obviously publicly over the moon with its purchase.

"Warren Spector's unique talents as a leading creative force in the world of video games, his knowledge and passion for Disney, and his legacy of story telling and character development adds a unique creative dimension to our portfolio," said Graham Hopper, general manager and executive vice president, Disney Interactive Studios.

"Our shared visions on creativity, innovation and storytelling will allow us to touch individual players in ways never before possible."

Junction Point Studios now joins Disney's other internal developers Avalanche Software, Fall Line Studio, Propaganda Games and Black Rock Studio.

"I believe that the creative talents of our two companies and our shared ambition to bring distinctive, compelling experiences to gamers make this an ideal alliance," commented Spector

"We look forward to bringing exciting, innovative and entertaining new experiences to gamers and Disney fans alike."

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (21) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Moonprince #1 5 years ago

    Unlucky. Sht company to work for.

  • Salvia #2 5 years ago

    Harvey Smith was responsible for the design of Deus Ex.

  • Inquisitor #3 5 years ago

    I feel sorry for him, boring games to work on from now on no doubt...

  • pauleyc #4 5 years ago

    What an odd cooperation. Still, would that make a TOON CRPG more probable?

  • loopy #5 5 years ago

    "Warren Spector's..... knowledge and passion for Disney"

    Well that's news to me, what an odd development.

  • Triggerhappytel #6 5 years ago

    Deus Ex 3: JC Does Disneyland?

  • rogermellie #7 5 years ago

    How about Ultima Disneyworld?

  • Duke_Red #8 5 years ago

    oh please

    if I had a choice between mickey mouse or JC Denton I know which I would choose

    this is a joke.

    poor warren spector, I hope he doesn't given to Disney branding crap and makes his own games... (games like he has done previously).

  • Caimbeul #9 5 years ago

    i thought it was Warren Spectors company anyway...so if it was boght by Disney then surely he would have had input, hence he would have had to agree.

  • Triggerhappytel #10 5 years ago

    Caimbeul - "i thought it was Warren Spectors company anyway...so if it was boght by Disney then surely he would have had input, hence he would have had to agree."

    Well of course, but you'd be surprised how agreeable people become when a few million dollars is waved under their nose...

  • spongebob #11 5 years ago

    Obviously the big movie studios are starting to see the real potential in moving to videogames. What's the easiest way to jump in the game, so to speak? Buy yourself in, and that's exactly what Disney, Warner and everyone else who has the dough and wit is doing currently.

  • kgthatsme #12 5 years ago

    Who has the rights to Deus Ex anyway

  • teamonkey #13 5 years ago

    Good luck to him. Disney were obviously interested in what Junction Point are doing, they're not the most likely candidate for doing a cheap Lion King XII cash-in.

  • PearOfAnguish #14 5 years ago

    "Who has the rights to Deus Ex anyway"

    Eidos. Spector has stated he loves Deus Ex and would make another DX game given the chance, but that's unlikely to happen now.

  • Caimbeul #15 5 years ago

    @ Triggerhappytel: true

  • Biggles #16 5 years ago

    No, it doesn't nescessarily mean they'll make disney games. I get the impression that disney is just trying to increase the size of its gaming portfolio. From what I've heard at other companies they've bought, they are quite happy to let the respective developer carry on making whatever they feel like (Turok etc.) so long as they bring in the bucks. Anything associated with Warren Spector is likely to do just that.

  • Kostabi #17 5 years ago

    Exactly Biggles.

    If Disney cash enables Warren Spector to keep making games then they get my vote.

  • LOLLERS #18 5 years ago

    "From what I've heard at other companies they've bought, they are quite happy to let the respective developer carry on making whatever they feel like (Turok etc.) so long as they bring in the bucks. "

    And so long as the market research supports that direction. And the marketing department is happy. And it fits in with the Disney brand and ideals. But yeah, other than that they can make whatever they feel like..........
    Edited by 1 at 13/07/07 @ 21:02

  • Aegus #19 5 years ago

    You people are crazy. Spector himself has admitted he's an avid cartoon fan and did his thesis on Looney Toons and owned shares in Disney when he was 19.

    Also it's a Disney studio that is making the new Turok game which by all accounts looks pretty fun.

  • Martin #20 5 years ago

    Disney can make mature games just like they make mature movies - they just don't release it under the Disney moniker, that's all.

  • Royal Fool #21 5 years ago

    Aegus: Then he should know that the Disney and Warner Bros. of today is vastly different from the ones from the old days.

    Martin: Yep, Turok will be published under the Touchstone label.