Midway

Midway Games was one of the most significant American companies in the history of video games. Its roots date back to 1958, when it was founded as the Midway Manufacturing Company and focused on the production of arcade machines. From the 1980s onwards, it became one of the largest publishers and developers of both arcade and console games.

The company’s greatest fame came from the fighting series Mortal Kombat, which revolutionised the genre in 1992 with its digitised characters, brutal combat and iconic Fatalities. Alongside Mortal Kombat, Midway also created legendary arcade games and series such as NBA Jam, NFL Blitz, Spy Hunter, Rampage, Gauntlet, Cruis’n USA, Hydro Thunder, San Francisco Rush, NARC and The Suffering.

Midway’s games were released on a wide range of platforms, including PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Nintendo, PC and arcade machines. The company was best known for its fast-paced arcade gameplay, technical innovations and the courage to come up with new ideas that influenced the entire gaming industry.

In 2009, the company ran into financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy. Most of its assets, including the Mortal Kombat franchise, were acquired by Warner Bros. Games, which founded NetherRealm Studios and continues to develop the series to this day. Other well-known franchises were taken over by various publishers.

Although Midway Games no longer exists, its legacy lives on in the gaming world. The company was behind some of the most influential arcade and console games of all time, and its titles remain among the most popular classics in the history of video games.