Atari Expands Portfolio with Acquisition

Atari's Infogrames Label Acquires Surgeon Simulator Franchise

Atari, through its Infogrames subsidiary, has announced the acquisition of the popular Surgeon Simulator franchise from tinyBuild Inc. Infogrames, relaunched by Atari, serves as a label for titles outside Atari's core portfolio, reviving a brand with a significant history in game development and distribution throughout the 80s and 90s. This acquisition marks another step in Atari's recent acquisition spree, aiming to bolster its position in the gaming industry.

Infogrames plans to expand the Surgeon Simulator franchise through new digital and physical distribution channels, and the development of new installments and collections. The label's history includes notable titles like Alone in the Dark, the Backyard Baseball series, the Putt-Putt series, and Sonic Advance.

Geoffroy Châteauvieux, Infogrames Manager, highlighted Surgeon Simulator's enduring appeal and the opportunity to expand its reach. The acquisition follows the April 2024 acquisition of Totally Reliable Delivery Service, both contributing significantly to Infogrames' resurgence.

Surgeon Simulator's enduring popularity stems from its darkly humorous and unconventional gameplay. The original game, released in 2013 for PC and Mac, followed the misadventures of Nigel Burke, a surgeon performing operations on a patient named 'Bob'. The franchise has since expanded to iOS, Android, PS4, and Nintendo Switch, with the release of Surgeon Simulator CPR in 2018 and Surgeon Simulator 2 in 2020 (PC) and 2021 (Xbox). The future of the franchise, following Bossa Studios' staff reductions in late 2023, remains to be seen. tinyBuild, who acquired the IP rights in 2022, facilitated this latest transaction.