Firebird Software

A British video game publisher active in the 1980s, known for releasing titles across various home computer platforms.

Action

Sports

Adventure

RPG

Simulation

Founded

1984

Acquired

1989

HQ

London, United Kingdom

Parent

MicroProse

Known for

Action / Adventure / Simulation

25

Games

1983–1989

Years

4

Platforms

$28.73

Ø CIB

-33.2%

24M change

About

Firebird Software was a prominent British publisher that released titles such as IO, Savage, Circus, and Seabase Delta. The publisher was also associated with home computer versions of games like Zenji, On-Court Tennis, Sherlock, and Pitfall. Additionally, Firebird Software published releases within major franchises of the era, including Bubble Bobble and Rick Dangerous.

Established as a publishing label by British Telecom, the company expanded the lore and reach of the Bubble Bobble and Rick Dangerous universes through a diverse lineup of releases. Early entries in these franchises, such as the action-oriented Circus (1983) and the strategic Seabase Delta (1983), established the core gameplay mechanics that defined the publisher's early portfolio. The sci-fi shooter IO (1982) and the fantasy-themed Savage (1983) further broadened the narrative scope of these shared intellectual properties.

To bring these franchises to home computer audiences, the publisher adapted several key titles. The puzzle-centric Zenji (1984) and the text-adventure hybrid Sherlock (1984) offered slower-paced, intellectual challenges within the franchise frameworks, while On-Court Tennis (1984) and the platforming classic Pitfall (1984) demonstrated the versatility of the Bubble Bobble and Rick Dangerous brands across different genres. Through these specific releases, the publisher solidified its legacy as a vital custodian of these interconnected gaming worlds during the 1980s microcomputer boom.