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Brian Fargo wants to bring back Interplay – if you buy The Bard’s Tale 4

Want Interplay back in a major way? Buy The Bard's Tale 4

Brian Fargo was a founder of Interplay way back in 1983. The company’s impressive list of credits covers everything from The Bard’s Tale to Fallout and now, it seems, Fargo wants to buy it back. Of course, videogame companies don’t come free, and he says there’s one condition before Interplay comes back to one of its original founders – you’d better buy his next game.

That next game is The Bard’s Tale IV: Barrows Deep, which coincidentally launches tomorrow, September 18. More specifically, Fargo says on Twitter that “I will attempt to buy Interplay back if we manage to sell over 2 million units in the first 18 months.” He also gives an @ to “wouldntthatbeawesome,” but probably meant to use a hashtag. (But that’s okay.)

The desire is at least a little tongue-in-cheek (probably), though given Interplay’s history it wouldn’t be an unwelcome surprise to see some of its classics return. As Fargo notes, “tons” of old IPs are still at the company, including Dragon Wars, Earthworm Jim, Sacrifice, and Kingpin.

If you haven’t been paying incredibly close attention lately, you may be surprised to learn Interplay even still exists – but yes, it does. Many of the company’s most famous titles are now with other owners, like Fallout heading to Bethesda or The Bard’s Tale ending up with Fargo’s current venture, inXile Entertainment.

Interplay made moves to sell many of its remaining properties years ago, and at this point it’s unclear which of those remaining properties has moved into new hands. We got a look at the combat, songs, and puzzles in The Bard’s Tale IV earlier this year, so follow that link if you want to know how it’s shaping up. The fate of some of your favourite classics may hinge on the results.