Atari acquires Intellivision brand

Atari has acquired the Intellivision brand and certain games from Intellivision Entertainment, the company announced.

Intellivision Entertainment will rebrand and continue its business of developing and distributing the Amico brand game console, with a license from Atari to continue to distribute new versions of the Intellivision games on the Amico console.

Through its purchase, Atari aims to expand digital and physical distribution of legacy Intellivision games, as well as potentially create new games, and explore brand and licensing opportunities.

The first Intellivision home game console was released by Mattel Electronics in 1979 and sold an estimated five million units through 1990. Atari and Intellivision fought what Atari calls “the first console war” in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

“Uniting Atari and Intellivision after 45 years ends the longest-running console war in history,” said Atari subsidiary Digital Eclipse studio head Mike Mika in a press release.

Atari CEO and chairman Wade Rosen added, “This was a very rare opportunity to unite former competitors and bring together fans of Atari, Intellivision and the golden age of gaming.”

Intellivision Entertainment CEO Phil Adam said, “Atari has been a valuable partner and we have every confidence they will be a responsible steward of the storied Intellivision brand. We look forward to our expanded collaboration and bringing a broad array of new Atari and Intellivision titles to the Amico and Amico Home family gaming platforms.”