Atari announces today that it has reached an agreement for the acquisition of all of Nightdive Studios, the video game development company based in Vancouver, Washington, specializing in the remastering of classic video game titles.
This company currently has more than 100 titles on the market available through different gaming platforms, including System Shock, Doom 64 and Quake among the most prominent titles, and it is expected that a remastered version of FPS will arrive this year. System Shock.
Acquisition that will support its growth strategy
The acquisition announcement comes just months after the release of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, its biggest retro video game pack ever. Atari is especially interested in proprietary technology and market publishing capabilities to support its “retro growth” strategy.
For Atari, a key to Nightdive Studios’ success is its patented KEX engine, which makes it possible for classic video games to run on newer devices, even bettering the original versions.
And furthermore, Nightdive Studios’ proven experience and successful marketing record, according to Wade Rosen, Atari’s president and CEO, is “well aligned with Atari’s strategy.”
A long journey between both companies
Nightdive is an old acquaintance of Atari, where until now, 87% of the company’s shares are in the hands of the founders, while the remaining 13% is in the hands of Wade Rosen, president and CEO of Atari.
The acquisition has been unanimously approved by the members of Atari’s board of directors, although Wade Rosen himself has not participated in the vote. The acquisition is now expected to be completed next April.
According to Stephen Kick and Larry Kuperman, directors of NightDive:
Night Dive and Atari have a long history together, and we know that Atari shares our passion for retro gaming and our focus on producing high-quality new and remastered games that do justice to the original IP. As we look to grow our business and expand our capabilities, we couldn’t think of a better long-term partner than Atari.
More information: Official announcement
