Atari is a multi-platform, global interactive entertainment and licensing company. ^[1][2][3]

Overview

Founded in 1972, Atari has influenced the arcade game, game console, and personal computer industries with games like Pong®, Asteroids®, Centipede®, and Missile Command®. ^[4]

Atari's core businesses encompass video games, consumer hardware, licensing, and blockchain. Under the leadership of CEO Wade Rosen, Atari focuses on expanding and integrating these areas. The company aims to honor its legacy and build an engaged community around its retro-focused brands, including Digital Eclipse, Nightdive Studios, Infogrames, AtariAge, and Mobygames. ^[4]

In December 2020, Atari partnered with blockchain gaming platform Enjin, to release NFTs and integrate its IP, licenses, and much more into the Enjin ecosystem. ^[9][10]

“Atari is proud to partner with Enjin and eBallR to bring a new interactive experience to life. Being able to combine NFTs with an interactive experience is a lot of fun, and our common goal is to continue innovating in the space”, said Fred Chesnais, Atari CEO.
“This collaboration will mark the first phase of our plans with Enjin to leverage our expertise along with Atari’s library of games with proven track records of success with the blockchain to empower developers all around the world.”^[9]

Atari X

In May 2022, Atari X was officially launched. This strategic move was made to reinforce Atari's commitment to blockchain technology and to optimize performance through the consolidation of Atari's blockchain interests under a single, unified operation, under the full control of Atari. ^[5][6]

“We believe that blockchain will continue to grow to be a significant part of our business, and will create new ways for us to interact and collaborate with partners, players and fans of our brand,” said Wade Rosen, Chairman and CEO of Atari.

“Atari X is where we will harness all of our energy and creativity related to blockchain and build out an exciting Web3 ecosystem for our community.”^[7]

The fundamental goal of Atari X is to create a robust blockchain ecosystem that integrates community, gaming, and utility. ^[5][6]

"Atari is proud to be at the forefront of the web3 revolution. We were early adopters in this space and are currently working on several ambitious projects. We anticipate that blockchain technology will play an increasingly vital role in our business, allowing us to form new partnerships, engage with our players and fans in new ways, and drive growth for our brand." - Atari X's commitment statement^[6]

Community

In the decentralized Web3 landscape, community is essential. Atari values its community as a source of feedback and inspiration for all participants. The company envisions its community playing a significant role in shaping its business direction as it evolves. ^[6]

Gaming

Atari is synonymous with gaming. The company is passionate about creating enjoyable and thrilling experiences for players through web3 gaming as it is believed to be an effective way to engage and build a community around the brand. ^[6]

Utility

Atari aims to build a relevant, tangible, and sustainable ecosystem. A key focus is delivering tangible benefits to the community, demonstrating the value of the ecosystem, partners, and technology. ^[6]

Asteroids Launch

Launched in July 2024, Atari is enhancing some of its classic retro games with blockchain technology, beginning with Asteroids. ^[8]

Players can compete to rank in the top three of the global leaderboards to win weekly prizes, including a $1,000 Atari gift card. Built on Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 network Base, Atari offers an on-chain arcade experience with NFT access passes and blockchain-recorded scores. To play, users must mint an NFT access pass for $5.25 (0.0015 ETH), with up to 1,000 passes per wallet allowed, though multiple passes do not affect in-game scores. ^[8]