In the history of gaming, Atari is one of the most recognizable names in the industry. As pioneers of gaming, their company started back in 1972 according to computerhistory, with their first Atari Video Computer System coming out in 1977. Atari has had some of the most recognizable games on its platform with examples such as Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Asteroids just to name few. Today, Atari is continuing to expand with the acquisition of over 100 PC and console titles from the 1980s and 1990s that they hope to use to either expand distribution of these past games, or create new games based on the IP, as reported by globenewswire.
Among the vast array of games that were acquired are Bubsy, Hardball, Demolition Racer, 1942: Pacific Air War and many more. Additionally, beyond just the video games themselves, Atari also acquired the multiple production companies behind these products, such as Accolade, Microprose and Infogrames according to Shacknews.
Atari’s end goal with the acquisition of so many different brands is to create a vast library of IPs for them to pull from, which can lead to a large array of possibilities. Whether it is creating new games/ideas for these classic games, creating merchandise and brand collaborations, or updating pre-existing games for modern consoles, Atari has many plans for the titles that they have gained access to. In the words of Atari CEO Wade Rosen:
“This is a deep catalog that includes groundbreaking and award-winning titles from Accolade, Infogrames and Microprose… Many of these titles are a part of Atari history, and fans can look forward to seeing many of these games re-released in physical and digital formats, and in some cases, even ported to modern consoles.”
The purchase of these titles and companies opens a lot of doors for remasters and new games for previously appreciated IPs. Now that Atari has access to all of these properties, fans eagerly await more announcements from Atari to see where these franchises will be taken in the future.