A clip featuring former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has been making waves recently, where he seemingly misremembered details about a failed acquisition during a video podcast for venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, alongside former EA executive Bing Gordon. Kotick admitted, “We actually had a bad acquisition. The company that was, um… in Manchester, that did the driving game for Xbox, and it was called, um…”

You can watch the entire segment here, around the 8-minute mark. It’s not exactly a flattering moment for him. However, as I [checks age] reach my 62nd year, I understand how easy it is to forget something from when I was [calculating] 44 — which happens to be roughly my current age, and that’s a bit alarming. Will I recall penning this article? Only time will tell. What stands out in my memory, however, is the incredible experience that was Bizarre Creations’ game, cherished by my family even today.

No, I’m not referring to Blur—though all respect to its fans—or “the driving game for Xbox,” which would nod to Project Gotham Racing. The game I’m highlighting is, of course, Geometry Wars, a title that played a pivotal role in defining a new era in console gaming on Microsoft’s innovative second-generation console, effectively making it one of the best launch games for the Xbox 360.

Initially part of Project Gotham Racing 2 on the original Xbox, Geometry Wars is a straightforward twin-stick shooter: the left stick maneuvers the ship while the right stick fires. That’s the essence of it! In one of my early roles as a video game journalist (RIP Joystiq), I had the opportunity to cover the Xbox 360 launch in the lead-up to its November 2005 debut, and Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved—the HD version available on Xbox Live Arcade—immediately caught my attention. As I wrote back then, “If [Project Gotham Racing 3] isn’t the highlight of the 360 launch, Bizarre’s other creation surely is!”

In the weeks after the release, the Joystiq team and I marveled at the global leaderboards, often in disbelief. They scored what now? The novelty of a retro-style game thriving on a high-definition console with seamless internet integration hinted at exciting changes for the future of gaming. We covered remarkable high scores (kudos to Striker and xTHeDoGgx) and engaged in friendly competition on the leaderboards.

Even today, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved remains a beloved title on our Steam Deck, where its quick gaming sessions combined with father-son rivalry remind me of how timeless its gameplay is, nearly two decades later. So, regardless of whether you recall the studio’s name or its home city—Liverpool, for your information—you should definitely remember Geometry Wars. Activision closed Bizarre Creations in 2011 after the debut of Blur, but some former team members regrouped at Lucid Games, successfully releasing Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions in 2014, marking the franchise’s first entry on PlayStation.

If you haven’t had the chance to play it yet, I have great news! The original game is still available for purchase on the Xbox store for just $4.99, the same price it debuted at back in 2005. You can also find it on Steam for only $1.99—cheaper than a coffee at your local gas station! If you’re a PlayStation enthusiast, you can grab Geometry Wars 3 for just $14.99, roughly the cost of a decent cup of coffee these days (please, don’t fact-check that).

I’m eager to hear if any of you share my affection for this iconic game; feel free to share your thoughts below. See you on the leaderboards! 👀