Originally established to create the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer console system alongside hardware partners, the company later transitioned into a software publisher after the console failed to gain market share. They published and developed various titles for their own platform as well as other consoles before filing for bankruptcy in 2003.
Founded by Electronic Arts co-founder Trip Hawkins in 1991, the enterprise initially focused on licensing its technology to third-party hardware manufacturers like Panasonic, GoldStar, and Sanyo. To support the platform's library, the company curated a diverse portfolio of software, ranging from original productions to licensed ports.
Among the early titles associated with the brand's ecosystem and publishing efforts were the ports of classic computer games
Wizball (1987) and its sequel
Wizkid (1992). As the platform expanded, the catalog grew to include family-friendly software such as
Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise (1993) alongside educational and simulation titles like
Space Shuttle (1994) and
Mathemagics (1994). The company also published specialized releases designed to showcase the system's multimedia capabilities, including
Club 3DO: Station Invasion (1994), the winter sports title
Slopestyle (1994), and the puzzle game
Gridders (1994).
Following the hardware phase, the studio acquired developers like New World Computing and Cyclone Studios. This shifted their focus toward established intellectual properties, most notably the
Might and Magic and
Army Men franchises, which sustained the company's output across multiple industry platforms during its final years.
SMSG, Inc.