Argonaut Games PLC

Moby ID: 1151

AKA +
  • Argonaut Software Ltd. (from 1980 to 2000)

Overview edit · view history

Founded by Jez San, Argonaut Games Plc was a large independent games developer with a 17 year history of producing games.

The company was based in Edgware, north London, UK, and at its peak boasted over 300 employees. Argonaut created numerous games, most notably Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, Alien: Resurrection and the first Harry Potter on the PlayStation for EA.

Additionally, Argonaut developed the Super FX chip (used in the original SNES Star Fox title) for Nintendo, which ultimately became the foundation for a spin-off sister company, Argonaut RISC Cores.

Argonaut worked with a wide-range of publishers including Sega, Nintendo, Virgin, Koei, Mitsui, 20th Century Fox, Electronic Arts, Sierra and Ubisoft.

In 2000, the Argonaut board decided to float the company on the London AIM (Alternative Investments Market) stock-exchange, raising over £20m in working capital. A series of acquisitions followed, adding several small studios to the group, including Just Add Monsters (now Ninja Theory) and Particle Systems. However, the group struggled with both its new overheads and the fresh challenges in the transition from PlayStation to PS2 and Xbox.

The company also had an office in Woodside, California, Argonaut USA.

By 2004, after various setbacks, Argonaut's cash reserves were severely depleted, leading to the eventual closure of all of its studios, and the loss of several hundred jobs.

Aside from Ninja Theory, London-based developer Rocksteady Studios rose from Argonaut's ashes, while another acquisition, mobile developer Morpheme, was active until 2008.

Jez San went on to found online 3D poker company PKR.com.

Credited on 41 Games from 1986 to 2019

Displaying most recent · View all

Star Fox 2 (2019 on Nintendo Switch)
Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Famicom (2017 on Dedicated console)
Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition (2017 on Dedicated console)
Catwoman (2004 on Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox...)
Malice (2004 on PlayStation 2, Xbox)
Carve (2004 on Xbox)
SWAT: Global Strike Team (2003 on PlayStation 2, Xbox)
I-Ninja (2003 on Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox...)
Bionicle (2003 on Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox...)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002 on PlayStation)
Bionicle: Matoran Adventures (2002 on Game Boy Advance)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001 on PlayStation)
Disney's Aladdin in Nasira's Revenge (2000 on Windows, PlayStation)
Red Dog: Superior Firepower (2000 on Dreamcast)
Disney's The Emperor's New Groove (2000 on Windows, PlayStation, PSP...)
Alien: Resurrection (2000 on PlayStation)
Croc (2000 on Game Boy Color)
Croc 2 (1999 on Windows, PlayStation)
Buck Bumble (1998 on Nintendo 64)
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos (1997 on Windows, PlayStation, SEGA Saturn)

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History +

November 1, 2004

After selling Particle Systems, Argonaut closes its last development studios: Edgware

October 25, 2004

Argonaut fires about a hundred employees and the company is put up for sale.

October 22, 2004

Argonaut fires the entire staff (nearly 40 people) of its subsidiary Argonaut Sheffield and closed it down.

October 15, 2004

Due to financial troubles, Argonaut's stock trade in London is halted.

May 2004

Due to financial difficulties, LTStudios Ltd. is closed down.

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Trivia +

Company location and contact information (1996)

Argonaut Software Limited

70 Colindale Avenue

Colindale

London

NW9 5ER

United Kingdom

Main Switchboard : +44 (0) 181 200 5777

Main Fax: +44 (0) 181 200 9866

Contact: [email protected]

Company location and contact information (1998)

Argonaut House

369 Burnt Oak Broadway

Edgware

Middlesex

HA8 5XZ

United Kingdom

Argonaut Software Limited

Tel: 0181 951 6000

Fax: 0181 951 6050

Website: www.argonaut.com

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