Atari Expands Portfolio with Acquisition of Emulation Studio Implicit Conversions

Atari has finalized the acquisition of Implicit Conversions, a renowned emulation studio, for an undisclosed sum. Implicit Conversions is specialized in leveraging proprietary emulation technology to port classic games to modern consoles, even in the absence of source code. Over the last year, the studio has worked closely with Atari, through preservation firm Digital Eclipse, on various projects such as Mortal Kombat: Legacy Collection, Rayman, and several unannounced titles. Following the acquisition, Implicit Conversions co-founders Bill Litshauer and Robin Lavallée have taken on new roles within the company, with Litshauer as head of operations and Lavallée as studio head. As part of the agreement, Implicit Conversions will provide additional support to Atari in multiple areas. Atari CEO Wade Rosen noted that Implicit Conversions' expertise in working with 32-bit era games using their proprietary Syrup engine complements Atari's existing capabilities with 8 and 16-bit era games. This acquisition, combined with the Bakesale Engine from Digital Eclipse and the Kex Engine from Nightdive, significantly enhances Atari's portfolio of proprietary tools and engineering talent, enabling the company to expand its capabilities across its own catalog and the back catalog of its IP partners. Lavallée expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition, stating that Implicit Conversions, Atari, and its studios share a passion for retro games and a commitment to accessibility as the foundation of preservation. With the combined portfolio of owned IP and strong relationships with major IP holders, the company is poised for significant opportunities. This acquisition follows Atari's recent purchases, including Nightdive Studios, the developer of Quake, for $10 million in March 2023, and Digital Eclipse for $20 million in October, a studio known for remastering retro games such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection.