Argonaut Games

A British video game developer founded in 1982, famous for pioneering 3D graphics and co-developing the Super FX chip with Nintendo.

Action

Driving

Racing

Strategy

Tactics

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Website

Founded

1982

HQ

London, United Kingdom

Known for

3D graphics / Action-adventure / Platform

47

Games

1986–2017

Years

21

Platforms

$25.88

Ø CIB

-0.1%

24M change

About

Argonaut Games, originally Argonaut Software, was founded by Jez San and became a pioneer in early 3D gaming with titles like Starglider. They closely collaborated with Nintendo to create the Super FX chip and the landmark game Star Fox. The studio developed numerous titles across various platforms before shutting down in 2004, and was later revived in 2024.

Initial success came with the wireframe 3D space combat simulator Starglider (1986) and its technically advanced sequel Starglider 2 (1988), which featured filled-polygon graphics. During this period, the developer also ported Sega's arcade hit Afterburner (1989) to home computers. The company diversified its output in the early 1990s with the puzzle game Loopz (1991), the complex flight simulator Birds of Prey (1991), and the racing adaptation Days of Thunder (1992).

Beyond these early releases, the studio developed its proprietary 3D engine, BRender, which powered several PC games and software tools. This technology facilitated the creation of Croc: Legend of the Gobbos (1997), a highly successful 3D platformer for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. The company also produced action-adventure adaptations of the Harry Potter franchise for Electronic Arts. At its peak, the developer expanded into a group of companies, including a mobile division and a graphics hardware arm, before financial difficulties led to its liquidation.