Atari Acquires Intellivision Brand But Leaves Disastrous Amico Console Behind
Is Atari's Intellivision Buy a Game Changer?
Atari has acquired the Intellivision Entertainment brand, gaining rights to its branding and over 200 games, but not the troubled Amico console. Intellivision Entertainment will rebrand and continue developing the Amico, albeit under a new name. Atari plans to leverage the Intellivision assets to expand its distribution of classic games and explore new licensing opportunities, aiming to unite fans of both historic gaming companies.
What will happen to the remaining part of Intellivision Entertainment LLC following the acquisition?
The remaining part of Intellivision Entertainment LLC will rebrand to a different name and continue to develop the Amico console5. Though it will no longer be called the Intellivision Amico, this retro-inspired console is still being developed, despite not having received any positive updates in years. The company will continue its business of developing and distributing the Amico game console with a license from Atari to continue to distribute new versions of the Intellivision games portfolio on the Amico console5.
What reasons contributed to the indefinite delay of the Intellivision Amico console's release?
The Intellivision Amico console experienced indefinite delays in its release due to several contributing factors. Initially announced in 2018 with a planned 2020 release, the console faced multiple setbacks4. The most notable reason for the delay was financial difficulties, as Intellivision admitted in November 2023 that it lacked the necessary funds to continue the console's development6. Additionally, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges, impacting the supply chain and overall production capabilities. These issues forced Intellivision to seek alternative funding methods, including the release of a mobile application version of the console to secure additional funds26. Despite these efforts, the console's development has not seen any positive updates for years, leading to its status as indefinitely delayed.