# Burst Studios

> video game developer

**Wikidata**: [Q31999943](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q31999943)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/burst-studios

## Summary

Burst Studios was a video game development company that operated from 1995 to 1998, specializing in the creation of video games within the video game industry. The company was eventually replaced by Westwood Pacific and is identified as a video game developer in structured data sources.

## Key Facts

- **Name:** Burst Studios (also known as "Burst")
- **Industry:** Video game industry
- **Inception:** 1995
- **End Time:** 1998
- **Classification:** Video game developer (instance_of)
- **Replaced By:** Westwood Pacific
- **Lastdodo Area ID:** 566253 (with reference from Q110606300, dated 2026-02-27)
- **Videogamegeek Company ID:** 13542 (with reference from Q74864565, dated 2022-03-19)
- **Wikidata Description:** Video game developer

## FAQs

### Q: What type of company was Burst Studios?

A: Burst Studios was a video game developer—a software development organization specializing in the creation of video games for players, operating within the broader video game industry.

### Q: When did Burst Studios operate?

A: Burst Studios operated from 1995 until 1998, when it was replaced by Westwood Pacific.

### Q: How is Burst Studios classified in structured data sources?

A: Burst Studios is classified as an instance of "video game developer," which is a subclass of "video game company" and "organization" in knowledge bases like Wikidata.

### Q: What happened to Burst Studios after it ended operations?

A: Burst Studios was replaced by Westwood Pacific, which continued operations in the video game development space.

### Q: What identifiers exist for Burst Studios?

A: Burst Studios can be referenced by its Lastdodo Area ID (566253) and Videogamegeek Company ID (13542) in respective databases.

## Why It Matters

Burst Studios represents a specific example of the video game development lifecycle—demonstrating how studios emerge, operate, and sometimes transition or get replaced within the competitive gaming industry. While the company existed for a relatively brief period (1995-1998), its existence and subsequent replacement by Westwood Pacific illustrates the dynamic nature of the video game industry, where companies may merge, rebrand, or be succeeded by other studios. Understanding Burst Studios helps contextualize the broader landscape of video game development companies, which serve as the creative engine behind the multibillion-dollar interactive entertainment sector. The company's brief operational history also highlights how individual studios contribute to the overall innovation and job creation within the gaming ecosystem, even if they don't achieve long-term survival in a competitive market.

## Notable For

- Operating as a dedicated video game developer during the mid-to-late 1990s, a period of significant growth in the gaming industry
- Being succeeded by Westwood Pacific, maintaining continuity in game development talent and operations
- Having documented presence in multiple knowledge bases (Lastdodo, Videogamegeek) with specific reference dates for verification
- Representing the subclass of "video game developer" in structured data, distinguishing it from publishers or other gaming-related organizations

## Body

### Company Identity and Classification

Burst Studios was a video game development company operating within the video game industry. The organization specialized in creating video games—software products designed for player entertainment. In structured data classification systems, Burst Studios is categorized as an instance of "video game developer," which itself is a subclass of the broader "video game company" category and the general "organization" classification. This classification distinguishes Burst Studios from video game publishers, which typically focus on marketing, distribution, and financing rather than the actual creation and technical development of games.

### Operational Timeline

The company was founded in 1995 and ceased operations in 1998, representing a three-year tenure in the competitive video game development sector. This timeframe places Burst Studios during a period of significant transformation in the gaming industry, as the medium was evolving from primarily PC-based experiences toward console gaming and increasingly sophisticated interactive experiences. The company's relatively brief operational period ended when it was replaced by Westwood Pacific, suggesting a merger, acquisition, or strategic restructuring within the gaming company's parent organization or leadership.

### Corporate Relationships and Succession

A key relationship in Burst Studios' corporate history is its replacement by Westwood Pacific. This succession indicates that the development capabilities, potentially including staff, intellectual property, or ongoing projects, were transferred to or continued under the Westwood Pacific banner. Westwood Pacific itself would later become known in the gaming industry, representing the continuation of the development work initiated under Burst Studios. This type of corporate succession is common in the video game industry, where smaller studios may be absorbed into larger entities or undergo rebranding to reflect new strategic directions or ownership structures.

### Documentation and Identifiers

Burst Studios appears in multiple knowledge bases with specific identifier codes that enable precise data linking across platforms. The Lastdodo database lists the company with Area ID 566253, with reference data pointing to source Q110606300 and a reference date of February 27, 2026. Similarly, the Videogamegeek database records the company with ID 13542, sourced from Q74864565 with a reference date of March 19, 2022. These identifiers allow researchers, gamers, and data systems to reference Burst Studios consistently across different platforms and knowledge graphs. The Wikidata description for the entity simply states "video game developer," aligning with the company's primary classification.

### Industry Context

As a video game developer, Burst Studios operated within the broader video game industry—a global sector dedicated to the creation and distribution of interactive entertainment software. The industry encompasses companies ranging from small independent studios like Burst Studios (during its brief existence) to large multinational corporations. Video game developers typically handle the design, programming, art creation, and testing phases of game production, transforming creative concepts into playable software. This is distinct from publishers, who manage the business-side activities including marketing, distribution, financing, and brand management. Burst Studios' role as a developer placed it at the creative core of the gaming production pipeline during its operational years.

## References

1. LastDodo
2. VideoGameGeek