Gaming icon Atari has officially joined forces with Twin Galaxies, the renowned authority in competitive gaming records, to announce the highly anticipated Atari World Championships. This global competition aims to celebrate Atari's rich legacy by bringing classic titles to a modern esports stage.
The championship will kick off with an open online tournament, allowing players worldwide to compete across five iconic Atari games. The ultimate showdown will culminate in an exhilarating live, in-person Grand Finals event, promising high-stakes retro gaming action.
Twin Galaxies, leveraging its established Submission and Adjudication Process (TGSAP), will oversee the online tournament, ensuring fair play and accurate record-keeping. The organization is also actively recruiting key brand partners for the initial North American pilot phase of the competition.
Atari CEO Wade Rosen expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, "Atari boasts a rich, fifty-plus-year history that fans continue to celebrate and explore. We are eager to work with Twin Galaxies to celebrate competition with our dedicated existing fans and welcome new players into our expanding community."
Zachary Rozga, a senior executive at Twin Galaxies, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the event's core mission: "Atari and Twin Galaxies are reviving the original, retro spirit and arcade energy of competitive gaming. The World Championships model we’ve co-created establishes a modern platform where every type of gamer can earn their place on the leaderboard, gain recognition for their achievements, and share their unique story."
This announcement follows Atari's recent strategic move last week, where the company inked a significant deal with Universal Pictures. This partnership will see ten of Atari's beloved intellectual properties adapted into feature films, including timeless classics such as Asteroids, Adventure, Berzerk, Breakout, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Millipede, Missile Command, Pong, and Yars' Revenge. These initiatives underscore Atari's continued efforts to expand its brand presence and engage with audiences both old and new.