Atari acquires Crossy Road developer Hipster Whale in $39.3 million deal

Atari has agreed to acquire Hipster Whale, the studio behind the hit mobile titles Crossy Road and Pac-Man 256, in a transaction valued at up to $39.3 million. The deal structure comprises an initial payment of $29.3 million in cash and stock, with a further $10 million in performance-based payments contingent on the studio’s results over the coming years.

Hipster Whale co-founder Matt Hall will assume a leadership role at Atari to oversee the development of mobile games. This appointment aligns with the company’s stated strategy to target consumers across a diverse range of devices, including phones, tablets, handheld consoles, PCs, televisions, and in-car infotainment systems via platforms such as AirConsole, Netflix, and Amazon.

The acquisition adds Crossy Road to Atari’s existing mobile portfolio, which already includes RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic and RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch. The move represents a continued push by the company to broaden its presence in the mobile gaming sector, leveraging its established franchises to capture market share across multiple screens.

This deal follows a period of aggressive expansion for Atari, which recently completed its takeover of the Thunderful Group. That acquisition brought Early Morning Studio, developer of the Vampire’s Fall series, into the Atari fold. Prior to that, in May, the company secured the rights to the first five games in the Wizardry series, with plans for remasters and new releases to coincide with the franchise’s 45th anniversary, marked by a countdown concluding on June 3.

While the financial terms and leadership integration have been outlined, specific details regarding the exact performance metrics required to trigger the additional $10 million payment, as well as the precise timeline for operational integration, were not disclosed in the source material.