The Intellivision brand, originally released by Mattel Electronics in 1979, sold around 5 million units through 1990. Atari and Intellivision were fierce rivals during the late 1970s and early 1980s, with Mattel even enlisting actor George Plimpton for ads comparing the two systems. Now, after 45 years, Atari and Intellivision are joining forces to bring together fans of both brands.
Wade Rosen, chairman and CEO of Atari, expressed his excitement about the acquisition. He sees it as a rare opportunity to unite former competitors and create something special for fans of Atari, Intellivision, and the golden age of gaming. As part of the acquisition, Atari now has the rights to over 200 titles from the Intellivision portfolio as well as the Intellivision trademarks.
Intellivision Entertainment will rebrand and continue its business of developing and distributing the Amico brand game console. They have obtained a license from Atari to distribute new versions of Intellivision games on the Amico console. Phil Adam took over as CEO of Intellivision Entertainment in 2022, while Tommy Tallarico, a renowned gaming musician, became president.
Tallarico had purchased Intellivision back in 2018 and had been working on the Amico, a new game console that would run both new and old Intellivision games. However, release dates for the Amico have been pushed back due to various challenges, including parts shortages related to the pandemic. Despite delays, Atari remains confident in the collaboration and looks forward to bringing a broad array of new Atari and Intellivision titles to the Amico and Amico Home family gaming platforms.
To celebrate the acquisition, Atari is selling Intellivision T-shirts on their website, with plans to release more Intellivision apparel and collectibles in the future. The Amico video game console is still in development, but in the meantime, the Amico Home gaming experience is available on Android and will soon be coming to Apple iOS. Additional platforms and devices are also planned for the future.
In summary, Atari’s acquisition of the Intellivision brand marks a significant moment in gaming history. By bringing together these two iconic brands, Atari aims to expand digital and physical distribution of legacy Intellivision games, potentially create new games, and explore brand and licensing opportunities. Gamers can look forward to a new era of gaming that pays homage to the golden age while embracing the future.
