Overview
Westwood didn’t just make strategy games—they invented how we think about them. Dune II established the RTS template; Command & Conquer refined it for mass audiences. Their combination of accessible mechanics, memorable FMV, and competitive multiplayer defined the genre’s golden age before corporate absorption ended the studio.
Fast facts
- Founded: 1985, Las Vegas.
- Founders: Brett Sperry, Louis Castle.
- Acquired: Virgin (1992), EA (1998).
- Closed: 2003.
RTS creation
| Title | Year | Achievement |
|---|
| Dune II | 1992 | Genre creation |
| Command & Conquer | 1995 | Genre popularisation |
| Red Alert | 1996 | Alternate history |
Command & Conquer series
| Title | Year |
|---|
| Command & Conquer | 1995 |
| Red Alert | 1996 |
| Tiberian Sun | 1999 |
| Red Alert 2 | 2000 |
| Renegade | 2002 |
Beyond RTS
| Title | Genre |
|---|
| Eye of the Beholder | RPG |
| Lands of Lore | RPG |
| Legend of Kyrandia | Adventure |
| Blade Runner | Adventure |
FMV signature
| Element | Quality |
|---|
| Live actors | Joseph Kucan as Kane |
| Production | TV-level quality |
| Personality | Memorable villains |
| Series identity | Continued tradition |
EA acquisition
| Year | Event |
|---|
| 1998 | EA acquires |
| 2003 | Studio closed |
| Teams | Scattered across EA |
| Legacy | C&C continues internally |
See also