Atari has secured a major studio deal with Universal Pictures to adapt 10 of its classic video game properties into feature films. Entertainment 360 is producing the slate, which launches with an original script penned by Matt Reilly and Carl Hampe.
The partnership represents a significant bet by Universal on gaming IP at a moment when video game adaptations dominate box office conversations. Following the success of the Super Mario Bros. Movie and the critical reception of The Last of Us on HBO, studios aggressively pursue gaming franchises with built-in audiences and nostalgic appeal.
Atari's roster includes some of the most recognizable arcade and early home console titles in entertainment history. Games like Pac-Man, Asteroids, Centipede, and Breakout shaped pop culture across decades. The studio previously licensed some properties to other studios. Sony released the Sonic the Hedgehog films, though that franchise originated with Sega, not Atari. This Universal deal consolidates multiple Atari properties under one roof.
The first project moves quickly into development with an original screenplay rather than a direct adaptation of existing game mechanics. Reilly and Hampe crafted a narrative framework around unspecified Atari IP. Entertainment 360, known for producing genre content, brings execution experience to what will likely be action-adventure fare targeting both nostalgic millennials and younger audiences discovering these properties for the first time.
Guymon's involvement as producer signals Entertainment 360's commitment to shepherding the project through development and production. Universal gains exclusive development rights across the ten-property portfolio, positioning itself to launch a potential franchise universe.
The deal reflects Hollywood's conviction that 1980s and early 1990s gaming IP commands commercial potential. While some video game movies struggle critically, box office performance often justifies studio investment. Nintendo's Mario success demonstrated that licensing fees for