The gaming industry has always been marked by intense competition between top companies, leading to what gamers affectionately call the “console wars.” From Nintendo vs. Sega to PlayStation vs. Xbox, these battles have captivated gamers for decades. However, one of the oldest console wars in history has finally come to an end after roughly 45 years. Atari, an iconic name in gaming, has announced its acquisition of the Intellivision brand and certain games from Intellivision Entertainment LLC, effectively uniting the two long-standing rivals.
The Intellivision gaming console was introduced in 1979 by Mattel Electronics and posed a serious threat to Atari’s dominance with its Atari 2600 console. Mattel took a unique approach to challenge Atari by launching a series of commercials and advertisements featuring writer George Plimpton. These ads showcased Intellivision’s superior graphics and sound compared to Atari’s console. The strategy paid off, as Intellivision sold out within a year and went on to sell around 5 million consoles by 1990.
Both Atari and Intellivision eventually lost their positions at the top of the video game console market. However, they continued to leverage their intellectual property and license their games to other companies like Nintendo and Sony. Now, with Atari’s acquisition of the Intellivision brand, it remains unclear what exactly Atari has planned for the brand. However, given the enduring nostalgia within the gaming community, it is likely that Atari aims to capitalize on Intellivision’s game library.
Interestingly, Atari’s announcement specified that it did not acquire Intellivision Entertainment LLC’s Amico brand gaming console. The Amico console was initially announced in 2018 by video game music composer Tommy Tallarico, who had bought a stake in Intellivision. The console was intended to be a simple gaming system targeting non-gamers and families. Despite setting a targeted release date of 2020, the Amico faced several delays and has yet to be launched as of 2024. It seems that Atari had no interest in acquiring the Amico console.
According to Atari’s announcement, Intellivision Entertainment LLC will rebrand itself and continue to pursue the Amico gaming console. As part of the deal, Amico will have a license to distribute new Intellivision games for its console. This move suggests that the sale of the Intellivision brand to Atari may have been made to secure funding for the struggling Amico project.
In conclusion, Atari’s acquisition of the Intellivision brand marks the end of a historic console war. While the details of Atari’s plans for Intellivision remain unclear, it is evident that Atari sees value in the brand’s game library. Meanwhile, Intellivision Entertainment LLC will forge ahead with the Amico console, aiming to bring a unique gaming experience to non-gamers and families. The gaming industry continues to evolve, but the console wars of the past still hold a special place in the hearts of gamers everywhere.
