Summary
Infogrames, a subsidiary ofAtari, has announced the acquisition of Bossa Studios’Surgeon Simulatorfranchise in an agreement with the game’s publisher, tinyBuild Inc. According to the official description fromAtari, Infogrames is a label that will oversee the publishing of games that fall outside the core portfolio of the Atari brand. With the relaunch of Infogrames, Atari is reviving a legacy brand best known for game development and global distribution in the ’80s and ’90s.
Infogrames' mission includes expanding digital and physical distribution, as well as developing new collections and sequels. Many gamers will recognize Infogrames as the developer of 1992’sAlone in the Dark, which was recently reimagined by Pieces Interactive. The label also published theBackyard Baseballseries,the Putt-Puttseries, andSonic Advanceand its sequel,Sonic Advance 2. In 2003, Infogrames decided to rebrand under Atari before the company declared bankruptcy in 2013. Just one year later, all three Atari branches - Atari, Inc., Atari Interactive, and the recently acquired Infogrames - eventually reemerged to form the modern-day Atari,which has undertaken several acquisitionsto rebuild its reputation as one of the gaming industry’s most resourceful and consistent companies.
Atari has been on an acquisition spree latelyand now tinyBuild’sSurgeon Simulatorhas joined the fold. “More than 10 years after the release of the original,Surgeon Simulatorremains a popular and unique franchise. This was a rare opportunity to acquire a game with a timeless appeal, and we are excited to haveSurgeon Simulatorwithin the Infogrames portfolio,” said Infogrames Manager Geoffroy Châteauvieux. This announcement follows the acquisition ofTotally Reliable Delivery Serviceback in April 2024 with both franchises contributing to Infogrames' revival.
Atari Announces Acquisition Of Surgeon Simulator Franchise
Surgeon Simulatorfollows Nigel Burke, a surgeon based out of the UK in 1987who carries out life-saving operationson a patient affectionately named ‘Bob’ by Bossa Studios. As the game progresses, Nigel finds himself operating on an alien inside a spacecraft, earning him the esteemed title of ‘Best Surgeon in the Universe.’ It didn’t take long forSurgeon Simulatorto become popular with players for its entertaining blend of dark humor and outlandish gameplay, butAtarihopes to take the franchise a step further.
Surgeon Simulatorwas originally released on PC and Mac in 2013, but Bossa Studios decided to port the game to iOS, Android, and PS4 in 2014. Two years later, a VR version ofSurgeon Simulatormade it to PS4 and Windows, with the franchise appearing on Nintendo Switch in 2018 withSurgeon Simulator CPR, featuring co-op and motion controls. After a four-year hiatus, Bossa Studios releasedSurgeon Simulator 2on PC and Xbox in 2020 and 2021, respectively. As of 2024, Bossa Studios has yet to announce a sequel, perhaps due to the developer laying off one-third of its staff at the end of 2023. As for tinyBuild, the publisheracquired the studio IPs for several Bossa Studios titlesin 2022, namelySurgeon SimulatorandI Am Bread.
Atari
Originally founded in 1972, Atari began as a company that created arcade games, home video game consoles, and computers. The brand was very popular in the 1970s and 1980s, producing games like Pong and consoles like the Atari 2600. The video game crash of 1983 tanked the company, selling the computer and game console divisions to Jack Tramiel, and split the company into Atari Games and Atari Corporation.Since then, Atari has changed hands numerous times before eventually merging with IESA in 2008 and eventually filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013. However, the company announced the new corporate strategy, releasing new products, software, developing hotels, as well as a new console named the Atari VCS.
