Where is Atari heading? The company's plans for games and the future console
Atari is a brand familiar to any video game fan. The company, which had a huge impact on the industry in the seventies, was on the verge of bankruptcy five years ago. Now all the difficulties are in the past. Atari has taken up game development again and even announced a new console. CEO Frederic Chesnais told VentureBeat about the company’s plans.
Atari VCS
In 2013, the company earned $1 million a year and had debts of $34 million.
To date, she has got rid of debts and earns $20 million a year. A series of Rollercoaster Tycoon construction simulators helped her get into shape, or rather two separate titles: Rollercoaster Tycoon Classic and Rollercoaster Tycoon Touch. The latter became the highest-grossing Atari game. 200 thousand users visit it every day.
After evaluating the success of these games, Atari management decided to focus primarily on simulators. Now the company is preparing Rollercoaster Tycoon for launch on the Chinese market, developing urban Citytopia, and in addition, it has introduced construction mechanics to the zombie survival Days of Doom.
We will keep what is already working well, instead of spending money on creating some kind of shooters or fantasy RPG.
CEO Atari
Rollercoaster Tycoon Classic
The second genre in which Atari is currently interested is casual games, in particular, match-3.
Frederic Chenet mentioned that the company is now engaged in an unnamed three-in-a-row.
In the future, Atari plans to release not only new games, but also remakes of old games, such as Tempest 4000. In addition, she wants to be able to run any game that can be found on the Internet on the Atari VCS console. It doesn’t matter if it’s modern or retro.
Nevertheless, Atari will not be limited to one software. According to Shene, the company plans to develop in four directions.
- Atari Games. This division is responsible for the software mentioned above. It will continue to deal with Atari game titles: mobile, browser, console. He will also take over the management of the promotion of games, licensing and contracts for merchandising, films and TV shows based on the brand’s games will fall on him. Already now it brings Atari a good income — 15% of the total amount.
- Atari Casino. Develops slot machines, lotteries, scratch games using real and virtual currency. It is focused on the European and African markets. It brings 10% of income, but, according to Shene, it’s too early to stop there.
- Atari VCS. Engaged in the console of the same name. It will be released in 2019. Now the number of pre-orders has reached 10 thousand, the console has already brought the brand $ 3 million. The department will also work on creating content for the Atari VCS.
- Atari Partners. According to Chenet, the department uses the famous Atari brand to obtain long-term contracts for the development of new companies and products. The department is engaged in investing in business partners and developing a blockchain platform with Infinity Networks.
The company wants to play on the fame of its brand for cooperation not only with game studios, but also with television and cinema. Recall that the brand flashed in the recently released films “Get ready for the First player“ and “Blade Runner 2049“.
Atari 2600 in “First Player Get Ready“
The uniqueness of the modern gaming industry, according to Shene, is precisely in the interaction. Games, esports, TV — everything is interconnected now; besides, developers and players are in contact with each other around the clock. In this regard, the brand’s popularity especially plays into the company’s hands: many doors open at the word Atari, says Frederic Chenet. And thanks to this, the company manages to conclude contracts on the most favorable terms and large advances.
We come and say: hi, we are Atari, we want to conclude an agreement. And in response we hear: wow, you are still alive, of course, we are ready to cooperate.
CEO of Atari
Also on the topic:
