Infogrames

Infogrames, also known historically as Infogrames Entertainment SA or IESA, is a French video-game company founded in 1983 by Bruno Bonnell and Christophe Sapet. Its name was formed by combining the French words “informatique” and “programmes.” The company developed, published, and distributed video games, and its early releases included titles for Thomson computers as well as Amstrad CPC, MSX, Atari ST, and Amiga systems. From the late 1980s, Infogrames became associated with adaptations of well-known Franco-Belgian comics, including Asterix, Tintin au Tibet, Spirou, The Smurfs, and North and South. It also grew through a substantial acquisition strategy, purchasing studios, publishers, and game businesses in Europe and North America. The acquisition of Hasbro Interactive in 2001 brought the company into closer association with the Atari name and properties. Infogrames changed its official corporate name to Atari SA in 2009. The company’s expansion was accompanied by significant debt and subsequent asset sales. Atari SA and its subsidiaries entered insolvency proceedings in 2013 and emerged from bankruptcy later that year. In April 2024, Atari announced that it was bringing back Infogrames as a publishing label. The revived label draws on the name’s history as a developer and publisher of varied games. The available evidence does not specify the label’s current headquarters, complete operating markets, or a catalogue of its new releases.

Infogrames was founded in France in 1983 by Bruno Bonnell and Christophe Sapet. The company name joined the French words “informatique” and “programmes.” Between 1983 and 1989, the company published more than 75 games for Thomson computers, as well as games for systems including Amstrad CPC, MSX, Atari ST, and Amiga. It also briefly sold PC software for composing Videotex pages for Minitel services and began developing the Cosmos Minitel server software in 1986. In 1988, the team behind that activity became independent as RIS Technologies. From the late 1980s, Infogrames worked with the Spanish studio Bit Managers on video-game adaptations of popular Franco-Belgian comic series. The titles mentioned in the company history include Asterix, Tintin au Tibet, Spirou, The Smurfs, North and South, and Bobo. During the 1980s and 1990s, the company pursued acquisitions, including Cobra Soft in 1986 and Ère informatique, Nice Ideas, and Carraz Editions in 1987. It later acquired businesses such as Ocean Software, Gremlin, Accolade, GT Interactive, Paradigm Entertainment, Hasbro Interactive, and Shiny Entertainment. The French studio Eden Games was acquired in 2002. The acquisition-driven expansion added to the group’s debt, which the cited history reports reached €580 million in 2002. Infogrames sold assets as financial pressure continued. Its purchase of Hasbro Interactive was agreed in December 2000 and completed on 29 January 2001. The acquired business included Atari Interactive, the Atari brand and its intellectual properties, games.com, and MicroProse with a catalogue of 250 titles; Hasbro Interactive was subsequently renamed Infogrames Interactive. The company was therefore increasingly associated with the Atari name, especially in North America. It sold the inherited Games.com site to AOL in May 2006. A recapitalization plan was approved at the company’s general meeting on 15 November 2006. In April 2007, the board decided that Bruno Bonnell would leave as chief executive; Patrick Leleu and later David Gardner succeeded him. Phil Harrison became deputy managing director in March 2008. On 2 June 2009, Infogrames changed its official corporate name to Atari SA. Atari SA and its three subsidiaries entered insolvency proceedings in 2013; they emerged from bankruptcy proceedings in December of that year and pursued a recovery campaign. On 23 April 2024, Atari announced that it was bringing back the Infogrames name as a publishing label. Atari chief executive Wade Rosen described the move as a return for a name associated with an eclectic history of game publishing and development.

• Infogrames founded in France

• Cobra Soft acquired

• Further French publisher acquisitions

• Cosmos team becomes RIS Technologies

• Agreement to acquire Hasbro Interactive announced

• Hasbro Interactive acquisition completed

• Eden Games acquired

• Recapitalization plan approved

• Bruno Bonnell leaves as chief executive

• Phil Harrison appointed deputy managing director

• Corporate name changed to Atari SA

• Atari SA and subsidiaries emerge from bankruptcy proceedings

• Infogrames returns as a publishing label

A historically eclectic video-game developer and publisher, relaunched by Atari as a publishing label.

• Infogrames video games

  Games developed, published, and distributed by the company for computer and console platforms.

• Franco-Belgian comic adaptations

  Adaptations included Asterix, Tintin au Tibet, Spirou, The Smurfs, North and South, and Bobo.

• Cosmos Minitel server software

  Server software for Minitel, developed beginning in 1986; the activity became independent in 1988.

• Change of official corporate nameOther

• Revival of the Infogrames labelOther

1. 1Infogrames Entertainmentfr.wikipedia.org
2. 2英宝格wikidata.org
3. 3Infogrames official websiteinfogrames.com