Although the original Alone in the Dark studio Infogrames has not been around for over 20 years, owners Atari are bringing the old company back. This could be an intriguing move, especially for those who are interested in video game preservation.
CEO is said to be “excited”
According to a recent report from VGC, a statement made by Atari CEO Wade Rosen says the revival of Infogrames will see games being published that “fall outside the core portfolio of IP associated with the Atari brand.”
Already the former studio has acquired Totally Reliable Delivery Service, a 2019 release, which has been “acquired from tinyBuild,” a publisher responsible for the likes of Clustertruck, the Hello Neighbor series, and for developing the platform game No Time to Explain.
Infogrames’ manager, Geoffrey Châteauvieux, has said the team “will be able to expand upon the strong work of tinyBuild, and re-energize this high-potential franchise.”
It’s also been said that bringing the legendary studio back will be keeping within the Atari spirit, specifically in that it will support game preservation as a “core component of its mission.”
Infogrames began in 1983 and lasted up until the early 2000s, when it was absorbed into the Atari brand. The developer and publisher is noted for some classic video games, including adaptations of Disney’s Fantasia and the Smurfs.
However, it was the original Alone in the Dark – first released in 1992 – that has arguably left the biggest impact, setting into motion the survival horror genre and influencing such huge franchises as Resident Evil and Silent Hill.