Atari acquires studio specialized in retro game emulation

Atari has recently acquired Implicit Conversions, a studio best known for its work in retro video game emulation. With this acquisition, Atari expands its existing portfolio, which now also includes the remake and remaster studios Nightdive and Digital Eclipse.

History of Atari

Atari was founded in 1972 and played a crucial role in the creation of the video game industry. Iconic titles such as Asteroids and Pong helped Atari cement its place in arcades and made the transition to the home console market possible. Although Atari no longer has the same prominence it enjoyed in its heyday, the company continues to develop and publish a range of well-received titles, including more recently Rollercoaster Tycoon Classic , Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster , and Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition .

About Implicit Conversions

Implicit Conversions, founded in 2019 by Robin Lavallée and Jake Stine, has specialized in retro video game emulation using its own Syrup Engine. This technology makes it possible to port a variety of retro games to modern consoles. The studio’s expertise lies primarily in porting titles from the PS1 era.

The studio recently worked with Limited Run Games to produce PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC ports of Fear Effect and Fear Effect 2 . In addition, Implicit Conversions also worked with Digital Eclipse to bring PS1 versions of classic Mortal Kombat games to modern consoles, as well as contributing to the PS1 experience in Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition .

The acquisition of Implicit Conversions

Atari’s acquisition of Implicit Conversions was officially announced on April 23, 2026. In the announcement, Bill Litshauer, Head of Operations at Implicit Conversions, said that working with Digital Eclipse and Atari over the past year felt like meeting "long-lost cousins," united by a shared passion for preserving the original versions of games.

While it is not yet clear which projects Implicit Conversions and Atari will develop in the future, the press release indicates that new opportunities and games are already in the pipeline and will be shared soon. In response to a question during the Q&A about the direction future projects will take, the studio confirmed that its relationship with Atari will be "highly collaborative," with Atari involved in strategic decision-making while Implicit Conversions retains a great deal of independence in choosing its path.

As Atari expands its retro emulation efforts with Implicit Conversions, the company’s future appears focused on preserving and refreshing its rich legacy in the games industry.