Summary
- The Atari publishing label Infogrames has acquired the Surgeon Simulator franchise from tinyBuild, further expanding its portfolio.
- The publisher intends to potentially develop new Surgeon Simulator titles and explore merch collaborations in an attempt to expand the franchise.
Infogrames, a subsidiary of Atari, has announced the acquisition of Bossa Studios' Surgeon Simulator franchise in an agreement with the game's publisher, tinyBuild Inc. According to the official description from Atari, 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's Alone in the Dark, which was recently reimagined by Pieces Interactive. The label also published the Backyard Baseball series, the Putt-Putt series, and Sonic Advance and 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 acquisitions to rebuild its reputation as one of the gaming industry's most resourceful and consistent companies.
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Atari has been on an acquisition spree lately and now tinyBuild's Surgeon Simulator has joined the fold. “More than 10 years after the release of the original, Surgeon Simulator remains a popular and unique franchise. This was a rare opportunity to acquire a game with a timeless appeal, and we are excited to have Surgeon Simulator within the Infogrames portfolio,” said Infogrames Manager Geoffroy Châteauvieux. This announcement follows the acquisition of Totally Reliable Delivery Service back in April 2024 with both franchises contributing to Infogrames' revival.
Atari Announces Acquisition Of Surgeon Simulator Franchise
Surgeon Simulator follows Nigel Burke, a surgeon based out of the UK in 1987 who carries out life-saving operations on 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 for Surgeon Simulator to become popular with players for its entertaining blend of dark humor and outlandish gameplay, but Atari hopes to take the franchise a step further.
Surgeon Simulator was 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 of Surgeon Simulator made it to PS4 and Windows, with the franchise appearing on Nintendo Switch in 2018 with Surgeon Simulator CPR, featuring co-op and motion controls. After a four-year hiatus, Bossa Studios released Surgeon Simulator 2 on 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 publisher acquired the studio IPs for several Bossa Studios titles in 2022, namely Surgeon Simulator and I Am Bread.
- Date Founded
- June 27, 1972
- Headquarters
- Sunnyvale, California, United States
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.
- Parent Company
- Atari Games
- Subsidiaries
- NightDive Studios, Digital Eclipse, Rockstar North
- Known For
- Space Invaders