Atari and Universal turn Pong Breakout Centipede into movies

For over fifty years, Atari has been the undisputed king of arcade gaming, crafting worlds and experiences that defined a generation. Now, that legendary legacy is getting a cinematic upgrade. A major partnership is underway that promises to transform some of Atari’s most iconic game IPs into big-scale movies.

Atari, in collaboration with management and production company Entertainment 360, has inked a deal with Universal Pictures, granting the studio the rights to adapt ten of their best-known games for the big screen. The goal? To bring the spirit of those classic titles into a new medium.

The lineup of potential cinematic blockbusters is steeped in gaming history—think arcade classics like Asteroids, Adventure, Breakout, and Missile Command. Among the ten properties slated for adaptation are deep dives into the worlds of Centipede, Millipede, Crystal Castles, Pong, and many more.

The vision behind this project is to take these beloved digital landscapes and transform them into “big-scale action-adventure fare.” Producers Matt Reilly and Carl Hampe, who grew up immersed in the Atari 2600 era, believe there is immense untapped potential in treating these games not just as nostalgia, but as foundational blueprints for epic storytelling.

While some might suggest that adapting simple arcade games into feature films is a risky venture, history offers a complex view. Previous attempts to translate titles like Missile Command and Centipede into cinema faced challenges. However, the current enthusiasm suggests a fresh approach aimed at realizing these worlds with modern cinematic scope.

This move comes at an interesting time for Atari itself. The company has navigated shifts in the gaming landscape by making notable moves, including investing in titles like Nightdive and Digital Eclipse, releasing new games, and successfully steering away from the crypto sphere. This renewed focus on its massive back catalogue suggests that the current opportunity is built on a solid foundation of established, beloved intellectual property.

Whether these film adaptations will be box office behemoths or charming nostalgic ventures remains to be seen, but the excitement surrounding the potential for action-adventure filmmaking based on Atari classics is undeniable. It’s a testament to how timeless gaming concepts continue to resonate and inspire creativity across every medium.