While Ubisoft is widely recognized for its major franchises such as Assassin`s Creed and Rainbow Six Siege, the company has also published a collection of noteworthy, smaller-scale games across PC, console, and mobile platforms. Many of these intellectual properties have remained dormant for years, but now, Atari has announced a new agreement to acquire five of these classic Ubisoft titles, aiming to reintroduce them to modern gaming platforms.
As part of this significant deal, Atari has purchased the intellectual property rights for:
- Cold Fear: A survival horror experience reminiscent of `The Thing` meets `Resident Evil`.
- I Am Alive: A tense survival adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world.
- Grow Home: A delightful platformer.
- Grow Up: The charming sequel to Grow Home, continuing its unique platforming mechanics.
- Child of Eden: A highly acclaimed 2011 music-powered rail-shooter from Tetsuya Mizuguchi, renowned for his work on `Rez` and `Lumines`.
With the exception of the `Grow` series, these were largely standalone titles. Most of these games were previously confined to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles, alongside their PC releases, making their availability on modern platforms a welcome development for fans.
“Millions of players have experienced these worlds over the years, and this will open the door for longtime players to revisit those memories while inviting new audiences to discover them for the first time.”
Papiernik further expressed confidence in Atari`s “rich gaming legacy and deep appreciation for these classic titles,” stating excitement to see how they will “evolve and connect with players in fresh, meaningful ways.”
Atari`s Strategic Acquisitions Drive Retro Revival
This move highlights Atari`s ongoing strategic initiative in recent times. The company recently became the majority owner of Thunderful Group, known for the SteamWorld series. In previous years, Atari has also significantly strengthened its retro focus by acquiring Nightdive Studios and Digital Eclipse—both specialists in remastering classic games. Furthermore, Atari has secured the rights to the Transport Tycoon IP and even its former rival, Intellivision, demonstrating a clear commitment to leveraging gaming history.
Atari isn`t the only classic gaming brand making a resurgence. Last year, Acclaim was also revived, pledging to support indie developers and reignite classic franchises. Acclaim has announced a dedicated showcase event on September 10 to reveal its upcoming projects, indicating a broader trend in the industry.
Meanwhile, Ubisoft is also undergoing its own internal restructuring. The company is refocusing certain efforts with a new subsidiary, partly funded by Tencent. This new venture will be led by Ubisoft Montreal veteran Christophe Derennes and Yves Guillemot`s son, Charlie Guillemot, signaling a new direction for parts of the publisher`s business.