Who owns Atari today?
Atari is currently owned by the French company Atari SA, formerly known as Infogrames, through a subsidiary named Atari Interactive. The company has undergone significant changes in ownership over the years, with its original founder Nolan Bushnell selling it to Warner Communications in 1976, and later being acquired by Hasbro Interactive and eventually Infogrames, which rebranded as Atari SA in 2009.
History of Atari
The original Atari, Inc. was founded in Sunnyvale, California, USA in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, and was a pioneer in arcade games, home video game consoles, and home computers.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Atari
- Did Atari get sold to Warner? Yes, in 1976, Bushnell, the sole owner of the company, sold the company to Warner Communications for $28 million to continue funding the development of the VCS (Video Computer System), later renamed the Atari 2600.
- Does Soulja Boy own Atari? No, Soulja Boy does not own Atari, although he made a claim of owning the company, it was later revealed that his statement was not accurate, and Atari is still owned by Atari SA.
- Is Atari a publicly traded company? Yes, Atari is a publicly traded company, and its Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol “ATAR”.
- When did they stop selling Atari? The production of the Atari 2600 halted in the early 1990s, but the system still enjoys popularity among classic game aficionados, who continue to develop new games for it.
- When was Atari sold? Hasbro Interactive purchased the Atari brand and intellectual property for just $5 million in 1998, but was taken over by French software publisher Infogrames in December 2000.
- Is Atari still operating? Yes, Atari is still operating, and as of 2023, the current Atari‘s focus is on video games, consumer hardware, licensing, and blockchain.
- Is Atari still profitable? Yes, Atari‘s CEO announces that the company is profitable again, as it continues to grow and rebuild its brand in the age of nostalgia.
- What is the oldest video game company? Though Sanders Associates received the first patent for a video game in 1964, gaming company Magnavox purchased the patent from them and began producing video game systems in the early 1970s.
- What does Atari do now? Atari is an interactive entertainment production company that manages an intellectual property portfolio of more than 200 games and franchises.
- How much did Soulja Boy buy Atari for? Soulja Boy claimed that he bought Atari for $140 million, but this claim was later revealed to be inaccurate.
- Does Atari own Blood? No, Atari does not own Blood, as the intellectual property of Blood is owned by Warner Bros.
- Is Atari coming back? Yes, Atari is coming back, with a re-created and modernized Atari 2600 set to be released in November 2023.
- Will Atari ever come back? Yes, Atari will come back, with PLAION and Atari announcing the release of the 2600+, a modern-day, faithful re-creation of the classic four-switch version of the 2600.
- How much money did Atari lose from ET? Atari lost $539 million due to the failure of E.T., which was released in 1982.
- What is the most sold Atari game? The best-selling video game on the Atari 2600 is Pac-Man, a port of the arcade game of the same name programmed by Tod Frye.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Atari has a rich and complex history, with various changes in ownership and a significant impact on the video game industry. Today, Atari is owned by Atari SA and continues to be a major player in the gaming industry, with a focus on video games, consumer hardware, licensing, and blockchain.