Probe Software Ltd.

Probe Software Ltd. was a British video game developer founded in 1984, later known as Probe Entertainment.

Action

Driving

Racing

Strategy

Educational

Founded

1984

Acquired

1995

HQ

Croydon, United Kingdom

Parent

Acclaim Entertainment

Known for

Action / Platform / Sports

56

Games

1983–1996

Years

16

Platforms

$61.13

Ø CIB

+10.9%

24M change

About

Founded by Fergus McGovern and Voldi Gailans, the studio became well-known for porting arcade hits to home computers and consoles. They worked on major franchises including OutRun, Mortal Kombat, and FIFA. The company was acquired by Acclaim Entertainment in 1995 and eventually closed in 2004.

Established in the United Kingdom, the developer initially targeted 8-bit home computers such as the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Amstrad CPC. Early software releases included the 1983 survival game Escape and the action title Savage. The studio secured high-profile licensed properties early in its tenure, developing the strategy-adventure game Alien in 1985, which was based on the Ridley Scott film.

As hardware technology evolved, the developer expanded its reach into 16-bit systems. During this transition, they produced the science-fiction strategy game Overlord in 1987. The company also delivered multiple versions of the popular racing title OutRun in 1987 and 1988, including the OutRun [Blue Label] variant. These projects demonstrated the studio's technical capability to optimize complex graphics and gameplay for diverse consumer hardware, cementing their position as a major technical force in the European software market during the 1980s and 1990s.