Sierra Entertainment, Inc.

Sierra was founded in 1980 by Ken and Roberta Williams as On-Line Systems, later renamed Sierra On-Line. Their first hit, Mystery House, was the first graphic/text adventure game and set the standard for the genre. Success followed quickly with Wizard and the Princess and the groundbreaking King’s Quest series, which cemented Roberta Williams as one of the most influential game designers of her time.

Expansion and Acquisitions

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Sierra grew rapidly through acquisitions and partnerships. Studios such as Dynamix, Bright Star, Coktel Vision, and Impressions Games brought new expertise in simulations, education, strategy, and productivity software. Hit titles like Red Baron, Leisure Suit Larry, Gabriel Knight, and Caesar further expanded Sierra’s reach across multiple genres and made it one of the most important names in PC gaming.

Corporate Changes

In 1996, Sierra was sold to CUC International for over $1 billion, later becoming part of Cendant Software. The company changed hands again in 1999 when it was acquired by Havas, eventually folded into Vivendi Universal. By the early 2000s, cost-cutting measures led to the closure of several renowned Sierra subsidiaries, and by 2008 the brand was effectively dissolved following the Activision-Blizzard merger.

Revival

The Sierra name returned in 2014 under Activision, relaunching with a new logo and a focus on smaller, creative titles. That year, the company announced Geometry Wars 3 and a new King’s Quest, marking the revival of one of gaming’s most iconic brands. Over its history, Sierra was credited on more than 600 games between 1980 and 2017, leaving a legacy that continues to influence game design today.