In a move that is sure to ignite nostalgia among veteran gamers, Atari has announced the resurrection of the iconic Infogrames brand as a new publishing label. The revived Infogrames will serve as a platform for publishing and distributing games that fall outside Atari’s core intellectual property portfolio.
Infogrames, a name that resonates with gamers from the 1980s and 1990s, was a prominent French publisher that brought numerous beloved titles to various platforms during its heyday. Founded by Bruno Bonnell in 1983, the company quickly gained recognition for publishing acclaimed games like “Alone in the Dark” and expanding its reach through strategic acquisitions.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Infogrames embarked on an ambitious acquisition spree, acquiring notable developers and publishers such as Gremlin, Ocean, and Hasbro Interactive. The acquisition of Hasbro Interactive ultimately led to Infogrames becoming the sole owner of the MicroProse and Atari brands, prompting the company to eventually phase out the Infogrames branding and adopt the Atari name.
However, after undergoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013, Atari sold off many of its best-known intellectual properties. In a strategic move last year, Atari regained the rights to over 100 games previously owned by Infogrames, setting the stage for the brand’s revival.
Atari is bringing back the Infogrames publishing label.
“For decades, Infogrames built a reputation as a publisher and developer of amazing and eclectic games, and we are excited to bring it back,” said Wade Rosen, Chairman and CEO of Atari. pic.twitter.com/hByECVM8NS
— Atari (@atari) April 23, 2024
According to Atari’s chairman and CEO, Wade Rosen, the decision to revive Infogrames was driven by a desire to honor the brand’s legacy as a publisher and developer of “amazing and eclectic games.”
The resurrected Infogrames will focus on actively managing its catalog of titles by expanding digital and physical distribution, as well as developing new collections and sequels. Game preservation is also a core component of the brand’s mission, ensuring that classic titles are preserved and made accessible to both long-time fans and new generations of gamers.
In line with its acquisition strategy, Infogrames has already secured the rights to the “Totally Reliable Delivery Service” games, along with related trademarks and underlying properties, from tinyBuild.
The revival of Infogrames represents a nostalgic nod to the golden age of gaming while simultaneously paving the way for a new era of publishing under the banner of a beloved brand. As Atari breathes new life into the Infogrames legacy, gamers can anticipate a renewed focus on preserving and revitalizing classic gaming experiences, as well as the potential for new titles and sequels that capture the spirit of the brand’s storied past.
