Earlier this yr, Atari reported that they have been teaming with Playmaji to create Atari modules for the Polymega console, however a current half-year monetary report exhibits that their funding within the firm goes past that. In line with the doc, Atari owns a non-controlling stake of 53% of the corporate.

The yr has seen fairly a number of acquisitions by Atari. Whereas it began out by shopping for again catalogs of recreation properties, they later introduced the acquisition of Nightdive Studios and Digital Eclipse, two of the highest builders targeted on remasters, rereleases, and total preservation of video video games. In July, they introduced their partnership with Playmaji together with a “minority funding,” and now we are able to see that got here on the price ticket of €4.6 million

As somebody who solely actually heard of Polymega again in July – which is a bit embarrassing for somebody so deeply invested in retro video games – unraveling what has gone on with it previously few years is reasonably troublesome. The fundamental concept is a modular retro console that lets you add (or rip) your recreation assortment as a unified console to play them. Press critiques for the console occurred method again in 2020, however it appears that evidently they’ve but to satisfy preordered models.

To be extra particular, in accordance with the doc, “Atari holds a non-controlling stake of 53% on a non-diluted foundation and 49% on a totally diluted foundation.”

In a current interview with gameindustry.biz, Atari CEO Wade Rosen addressed the problems and intentions. He mentioned, “For many of our initiatives we’ve finished and possibly those we’ll do going ahead, we search for best-in-class companions who know easy methods to do these issues, have entry to produce chains and distribution chains… Within the case of the Polymega, the funding actually was for them to clear that up. The funding was actually to assist them get again on observe on these issues and work out from that backlog.”

Rosen goes on to say that plenty of the issues with the manufacturing of the Playmega was with COVID and the resultant chip scarcity that made parts for the console extraordinarily costly. Whereas this can be an unsatisfactory excuse for purchasers, it’s perhaps price remembering that the chip scarcity affected plenty of industries, and we’re nonetheless recovering from it.

Nonetheless, proper now, there are stories on Twitter that Japanese prospects who ordered by means of Amazon at the moment are receiving their models. In line with my supply, models have additionally arrived within the US and will start distribution quickly.

Whereas acquisitions throughout the trade have been widespread, particularly all through the coronavirus pandemic, Atari’s appears distinctive from my perspective. Whereas different publishers appear to be in search of to achieve high-value IPs wherever potential, Atari appears targeted on making a enterprise out of the retro market and is in search of companions with established information on the topic. 

Whereas I’m not offered on the Polymega (rattling, that’s dear), gaming’s historical past is vital to me, so it’s attention-grabbing to look at an organization make such strikes with reference to it.