Rage Software

United Kingdom Founded 1992

Rage Software or Rage Games or FX Digital Network was a British video game developer. Formed in Liverpool in 1992, its games were marked by an emphasis on graphical effects with arcade gameplay. Rage's first title Striker sold more than one million copies throughout its two-year life cycle and established Rage as a major creative force in the interactive entertainment industry. The company went through rapid expansion in the 1990s and partnered with multiple third party software publishers for distribution of its titles. Rage Games Limited was floated on the stock exchange in 1996 as Rage Software plc. Rage continued to form commercial partnerships with major publishing houses, including Microsoft, Intel, Dell, Compaq, Nintendo, Sony and Sega, and re-registered as a private company as Rage Software Limited in 1999. In 2000, Rage began to expand into publishing. However, the costs of publishing and a run of games that did not sell as expected (most notably the David Beckham franchise) eventually led to the company closing in January 2003 due to bankruptcy. At that time, it was one of the oldest game developers in the UK and at its peak had offices in Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, Bristol and Warrington. Some of the former development staff have formed other game development companies such as Swordfish Studios in Birmingham, Juice Games in Warrington and Venom Games in Newcastle.

Rage Software at a Glance

Rage Software was a British developer based in Liverpool that operated from 1992 until it closed in January 2003. The company started strong with Striker, which sold over one million copies and helped establish the studio as a major creative force. Their games often focused on arcade gameplay with an emphasis on graphical effects. At its peak, the business had offices across several UK cities including Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, Bristol, and Warrington. The company went public in 1996 and later expanded into publishing by the year 2000. They signed deals with major partners like Microsoft, Sony, and Sega during this time. Their output was highest in the 1990s and early 2000s, producing 13 games in the 90s and 15 in the 2000s. Activity dropped sharply in the 2010s with only one release listed. They worked on a wide range of platforms including PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation, Xbox, and older systems like DOS and the Super Nintendo. Genre-wise, they were heavily focused on sports games, releasing 14 titles in that category. Racing came second with seven games, followed by shooters and simulators with six each. Their rating history shows mostly average to good results. Out of 12 rated titles, only one reached the great tier above 80 points. Eight titles fell into the good range between 60 and 79, while three landed in the mixed category between 40 and 59. No games scored below 40. Go! Go! Beckham! Adventure on Soccer Island holds their top rating at 80, followed by Incoming: The Final Conflict at 79.6. The company's decline began after they tried to expand into publishing. Costs rose and several titles failed to sell well, including entries in the David Beckham franchise. This financial strain led to bankruptcy in early 2003. A later release from 2014 named Eurofighter Typhoon shows a score of just 40, indicating a low point for the brand. Some former staff members went on to form new studios like Swordfish Studios and Juice Games after the closure.

Total Games

65.3

Avg Rating

1992

First Release

2014

Latest Release