Atari CEO Wade Rosen Explains the Rationale Behind the Acquisition of Thunderful

In a recent interview, Atari CEO Wade Rosen shared his insights on the company's acquisition of Thunderful, a Swedish game development and publishing group. The acquisition, which was approved by Thunderful's shareholders, marks a significant expansion of Atari's presence in Europe. Rosen explained that the acquisition aligns with Atari's growth strategy and provides an opportunity to work with strong intellectual properties, such as Aska, Viewfinder, and Laika. He also highlighted the importance of having a base in Europe, where Atari can better serve its European distribution partners. Rosen expressed his admiration for Thunderful's development studio, which he believes is the right size and has a good approach to game development. He also noted that Thunderful's UK-based subsidiary, Coatsink, has a strong co-development capability that can support Atari's core development teams. The acquisition is expected to provide Atari with flexibility across multiple verticals, but Rosen acknowledged that it may also raise questions about the company's focus on retro games. He emphasized that Atari will continue to prioritize its retro-first strategy, while also exploring opportunities to work with established brands, such as SteamWorld, through its Infogrames publishing label. Rosen also discussed the challenges facing Thunderful, which has undergone significant restructuring and divestment in recent years. He believes that by focusing on the highest-returning possibilities and being selective about the games they develop, Thunderful can become more profitable. The acquisition is seen as an opportunity for Atari to expand its presence in Europe and to work with a talented team of developers and publishers. Rosen also shared his thoughts on the games industry, expressing his dissatisfaction with overly long and similar games. He believes that games should be designed to be enjoyable and engaging, without requiring players to spend dozens of hours playing. He also emphasized the importance of reducing bureaucracy and allowing developers to work in smaller teams with greater autonomy, which can lead to more innovative and creative games. Overall, the acquisition of Thunderful is seen as a strategic move by Atari to expand its presence in Europe and to work with a talented team of developers and publishers. Rosen's comments suggest that the company is committed to its retro-first strategy, while also exploring opportunities to work with established brands and to develop new and innovative games.