Atari SA: History and Key Facts

Atari SA (formerly Infogrames Entertainment SA (French pronunciation: [ɛ̃fɔɡʁam])), also known as Atari Group, is a Luxembourgish holding company that owns mainly video gaming-related interactive entertainment properties. Atari SA's publishing labels include Atari, Inc. (formerly GT Interactive), Nightdive Studios and Digital Eclipse, and Infogrames. It is known for the RollerCoaster Tycoon series, produces video game consoles including the Atari VCS (2021 console), contains blockchain division Atari X, and additionally owns the websites MobyGames and AtariAge. Through its acqusitions, the company owns the intellectual property rights to many video game properties that originated from Accolade, Atari, Inc., Atari Corporation, GT Interactive, Ocean Software, M Network via Intellivision and others. Before rebranding as Atari in 2009, it began using the Atari brand for various purposes in 2001, which is licensed by subsidiary Atari Interactive Inc. to the other entities in the group.

Founded in Lyon, France as Infogrames, they published numerous video games during the 1990s and eventually became one of the largest video game companies in the world through an acquisition policy. However, later, as Atari SA, after selling bulk of its assets gained through the policy, it dealt with continuing pressures and difficulty finding investors which led to the company seeking bankruptcy protection under French law in January 2013 while the remaining subsidiaries in the United States sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as well.

Since 2023, the company has seen a turnaround with a new focus on retro gaming, acquiring and re-releasing older titles and acquiring developers and publishers in this area; it also abandoned its cryptocurrency, casino, and mobile gaming divisions, which the company had focused on during previous leadership.

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