Atari Buys Intellivision, Ending a Decades-Long Feud

Atari has completed the acquisition of its long-standing rival Intellivision, bringing a decades-long games industry battle to an end.

The buyout includes the rights to the Intellivision brand as well as more than 200 back catalog games. 

Atari hopes to make the most of commercial opportunities from its former rival, pushing digital and physical distribution of legacy Intellivision titles, as well as being open to new releases and licensing agreements, as stated in the company press release. 

Atari and Intellivision have been at loggerheads since the late 1970s, continuing their intense rivalry through the 1980s and the ensuing decades. However, both brands are very different in the digital age compared to their halcyon days. 

“Uniting Atari and Intellivision after 45 years ends the longest running console war in history,”  declared Mike Mika, Studio Head at Digital Eclipse, an Atari-owned game studio most recently known for its retro ports.

Wade Rosen, Chairman and CEO of Atari, noted the “very rare opportunity to unite former competitors and bring together fans of Atari, Intellivision, and the golden age of gaming.”

In recent years, Intellivision attempted to launch a new console, the Amico, which will remain as a standalone entity. After funding problems, the impact of the pandemic and now a takeover, Amico will be part of a limited Intellivision rebrand as it starts a new chapter in a different guise. 

Atari will grant certain licensing properties to the successor brand to feature Intellivision games on the console.

 Phil Adam, CEO of Intellivision, described Atari as a “valuable partner”, adding “we have every confidence they will be a responsible steward of the storied Intellivision brand.”