In April 2026, Atari acquired Implicit Conversions, a studio that is famous for PS1 emulations. The acquisition allows Atari to expand its emulation tools. This time, the company has purchased Australian mobile studio Hipster Whale.
The acquisition expands Atari’s mobile portfolio, including the Crossy Road franchise with 340 million downloads and Pac-Man 256. Hipster Whale was established in 2014 by Matt Hall and Andy Sum and has its headquarters in Melbourne.
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“Hipster Whale loves arcade games,” Hall said while commenting on the acquisition. “When we created Crossy Road, we defined our company’s mission: to bring the spirit of the arcade to new audiences on mobile devices — a focus that has resonated with players worldwide and surpassed 340 million downloads over the past decade. Joining forces with Atari brings together what each company does best: our unique approach to mobile development and Atari’s classic IP, licensing strength, and cross-media reach.”
The purchase price of Hipster Whale consists of an initial $29.3 million, payable at the closing of the acquisition. Out of that total, $26 million will be paid cash, while $3.3 million will be paid in newly issued Atari ordinary shares. There is also an earn-out of up to $10 million, which is payable in cash over the next 3 years, based on the future performance of Hipster Whale.
At the completion of the acquisition, which Atari expects to happen in the coming days, Hipster Whale shareholders will hold approximately 4% of Atari’s share capital. The acquisition expands Atari’s mobile development and publishing capabilities. Hall will take a leadership role, overseeing Atari’s expanding mobile development efforts.
“Atari and Hipster Whale share DNA for classic retro-style gaming, and together we can lean on each other’s strengths — Hipster Whale for mobile gaming, and Atari for premium gaming — to significantly expand our mobile business,” said Wade Rosen, Chairman and CEO of Atari. “The acquisition of Hipster Whale is a significant milestone in Atari’s growth plan.”
Atari COO calls Hipster Whale acquisition a “significant step forward”
Atari has built a reputation over generations and is globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment, and licensed products. The company owns or manages a portfolio of over 400 unique games and franchises. Therefore, it is not surprising that there has been a lot of buzz around the Hipster Whale acquisition.
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One of the people to openly comment on the acquisition was Kelly Bianucci, Atari’s COO. In a message posted on LinkedIn, Bianucci praised the acquisition as a significant step forward in the company’s growth plan.
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“This was one of the first major projects I’ve sponsored after joining Atari full-time in November, and it is incredibly rewarding to see it come through. More importantly, it marks a significant step forward in Atari’s growth plan,” Bianucci wrote.
“Hipster Whale brings extraordinary creative talent, a deeply loved mobile franchise, a profitable and cash-generative business, and a proven ability to create games that feel instantly accessible, joyful, and enduring. Atari brings classic IP, licensing strength, premium publishing capabilities, distribution, hardware, and cross-media reach.
Together, there is a powerful opportunity to expand Atari’s mobile business and bring great games to players in more places. Check out Hipster Whale’s Bluey Crossy Road Castle, the #1 game on Apple Arcade.”
Are you excited about what will likely emerge from this acquisition, especially for mobile game lovers? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
