Atari Acquires Studio Specializing in Exceptional Atari Game Development and Remastering

Atari has announced its acquisition of Digital Eclipse as part of its retro-focused growth strategy. This follows its previous purchase of Nightdive Studios, the developer behind the System Shock remake. Similar to Nightdive, Digital Eclipse specializes in retro game remasters and has garnered acclaim for projects like the Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection and The Making of Karateka. Atari CEO Wade Rosen expressed his admiration for Digital Eclipse's expertise and passion for the games industry, highlighting their track record of critically acclaimed projects based on historic franchises. With both Digital Eclipse and Nightdive now under Atari's umbrella, Rosen is eager to explore new possibilities in retro innovation.

Atari is set to acquire the California-based studio for $20 million, a move that will enable the company to enhance its internal development capabilities and leverage Digital Eclipse's expertise in restoring and remastering timeless games. The acquisition is expected to be finalized in the coming days. Digital Eclipse has been instrumental in developing impressive remasters for prestigious video game franchises such as Street Fighter: 30th Anniversary, Mega Man Legacy Collection, SNK 40th Anniversary Collection, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, and Disney Classic Games Collection.

Digital Eclipse president and creative director Mike Mika expressed how collaborating on Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration was a revelatory experience. The trust shown by Atari, coupled with the mutual love and respect for the content, allowed them to create something truly remarkable. Mika conveyed his belief that Atari will continue to support their approach, ensuring the creation of exciting new projects for years to come.

In a blog post, Digital Eclipse clarified that their operations will continue unaffected in the immediate future. The company has ongoing projects involving non-Atari game remasters and will have the freedom to pursue these endeavors. The Gold Master Series will maintain its commitment to using interactive documentaries to share significant stories about video games. Atari has expressed its desire to see this format continue, placing no restrictions on Digital Eclipse or the future of the Gold Master Series.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I grew up playing classic Atari games like Pac-Man, Asteroids, and Missile Command on my parents' old Atari 2600. These games hold a special place in my heart, and I'm excited to see that Atari is committed to preserving and remastering them for future generations.

The acquisition of Digital Eclipse and Nightdive Studios is a great move for Atari. These studios have a proven track record of creating high-quality remasters of classic games, and I'm confident that they will be able to bring new life to Atari's iconic titles. I'm particularly excited about the possibility of seeing remasters of some of my favorite Atari games, such as Pitfall, Yars' Revenge, and Pole Position.

Atari is making a smart move by focusing on retro gaming. There is a huge market for classic games, and Atari has a wealth of intellectual property that it can tap into. I'm confident that Atari will be able to successfully navigate the challenges of the gaming industry and continue to be a major player in the years to come.