Atari Set to Acquire Digital Eclipse in $20 Million Deal

Atari has announced its intention to acquire Digital Eclipse, a US-based developer renowned for its work on retro game remasters, in a deal valued at $20 million. Founded in 1992, Digital Eclipse has garnered acclaim for its releases such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection and the Disney Classic Games Collection. The studio's previous collaboration with Atari on the Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection has been well-received. The acquisition, expected to close shortly, involves an initial payment of $6.5 million, comprising $4 million in cash and $2.5 million in newly issued shares, with potential performance-based payments of up to $13.5 million over the next decade. Digital Eclipse has assured its fans that it will continue to work on non-Atari projects, including its Gold Master Series and the remaster of Wizardry: Providing Grounds of the Mad Overlord, with the acquisition potentially facilitating the realization of ambitious goals for the latter. The developer's existing commitments, including its work on the Digital Eclipse Arcade series and projects funded through Fig, will remain unaffected. Andrew Ayre, CEO of Digital Eclipse, expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition, citing the shared ethos between Atari and Digital Eclipse in celebrating and preserving gaming history. This move follows Atari's recent purchases of Nightdive Studios and retro community AtariAge, with Wade Rosen, Atari's CEO and chairman, praising Digital Eclipse as the world's best in its field, aligning perfectly with Atari's DNA and purpose.