Boulder Dash is celebrating 40 years and celebrating with an anniversary version of the game. I recently sat down with Stephan Berendsen, the CEO of BBG Entertainment, to talk about this classic, its lasting history, and what they are planning for the future.
What’s it feel like to work on such a classic series to celebrate 40 years?
Boulder Dash has always been one of the most important video games for me. I played it as kid for hours and days on my old home computer. And when I was asked in 2017 by the rights holder, who wanted to retire, if I would like to take over this brand and develop it further, I jumped at the chance – Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary is what I always imagined it to be. The classic content and brand new, contemporary content on all relevant platforms. We always want to take Boulder Dash further and create a game for both the old Boulder Dash fans and the new young generation
What new things did you want to bring to the series to leave your mark?
We pursued two goals: Firstly, we wanted to bring the first three parts Boulder Dash I, II and III to life as faithfully as possible on current machines. Secondly, we wanted to spice up the classic gameplay with contemporary visuals and suitable new ideas such as growing walls, slime, an enemy generator, eggs and other things.
Any challenges or concerns you’ve personally faced when working on an established intellectual property (IP) vs. a new one?
Die-hard Boulder Dash fans are extremely picky when it comes to remakes of the old originals. Not only does everything have to look exactly the same, but everything also has to play exactly the same – the speed, the scrolling, the physics. To achieve this, we worked closely with the world’s greatest Boulder Dash experts including Peter Liepa, the developer of the original game.
Why should gamers be excited for this new release?
Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary is certainly the most comprehensive game in the series of all time. The first three games in the original Commodore and Atari look, hundreds of brand new levels in a new look, and all tested and approved by the best Boulder Dash players worldwide and with music by Chris Hülsbeck. No fan should miss out on this – we think.
What would be your dream IP to work on? Could be any one, and if it’s Boulder Dash, let the world know your dream came true!
Well, I am fan of classic games – and to release a new version of Manic Miner or Jet Set Willy would be something.
What’s next for each of you?
We have plenty of new products in our pipeline, that are well known. One game is even featuring Rockford, our beloved Boulder-Dash-Hero. We are also working on several ports from popular hits from the 80s. Stay tuned!
Thanks again to Stephen Berendsen for making the time for this interview, and happy 40th anniversary to Boulder Dash!
Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary Edition will launch on July 10, 2025. Find out more about the game and links to each of the online storefronts at the link below.
What are some of your memories playing Boulder Dash, and what do you hope to see over the next 10 or 40 years? Let us know in the comments, our socials, or in our Discord community.