LOS ANGELES | June 1, 2026 - Atari®, one of the world's most iconic consumer brands and interactive entertainment producers, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Hipster Whale, the multi-award-winning studio behind Crossy Road and PAC-MAN 256.
Drake Star acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Hipster Whale on this transaction.
The acquisition expands Atari's mobile development and publishing capabilities, strengthening its position in the growing mobile gaming market. Hipster Whale brings a pipeline of projects built on popular IPs, while gaining access to Atari's expertise in premium game publishing, commercialization, distribution, licensing and hardware. Atari expects Hipster Whale co-founder Matt Hall to take a leadership role overseeing its expanding mobile development efforts.
“Atari and Hipster Whale share DNA for classic retro-style gaming, and together we can lean on each other’s strengths, Hipster Whale for mobile gaming, and Atari for premium gaming, to significantly expand our mobile business,” said Wade Rosen, Chairman and CEO of Atari. “The acquisition of Hipster Whale is a significant milestone in Atari’s growth plan.”
Matt Hall, Co-Founder of Hipster Whale, commented: “Hipster Whale loves arcade games. When we created Crossy Road, we defined our company’s mission: to bring the spirit of the arcade to new audiences on mobile devices, a focus that has resonated with players worldwide and surpassed 340 million downloads over the past decade. Joining forces with Atari brings together what each company does best: our unique approach to mobile development and Atari’s classic IP, licensing strength, and cross‑media reach."
“We are excited about joining forces with Atari and becoming part of a brand that has shaped gaming culture for over five decades. This is a fantastic outcome for Hipster Whale and our franchise” said Clara Reeves, CEO of Hipster Whale. “Michael Metzger and the Drake Star team were amazing partners throughout this journey. Their deep knowledge of gaming and interactive entertainment, the strength of their relationships, and their ability to run a world-class process were critical in making this extraordinary result possible."
Michael Metzger, Managing Partner at Drake Star, commented: “Atari is one of the most iconic brands in gaming history, and Hipster Whale is one of the most celebrated studios in mobile gaming, home to Crossy Road, a cultural phenomenon that has captured the hearts of hundreds of millions of players worldwide. Bringing these two together is a natural and powerful combination, and we are delighted to have advised on this outstanding transaction and congratulate both teams on a landmark deal.”
Drake Star Team: Michael Metzger, Mohit Pareek, Pei Chao Zhuo
Inquiries
For further inquiries, please contact:
Michael Metzger
Managing Partner | Drake Star
michael.metzger@drakestar.com
About Hipster Whale
Established in 2014 by co-founders Matt Hall and Andy Sum, Hipster Whale is a Melbourne-based studio with a distinguished record of industry accolades. Their debut title, Crossy Road, achieved immediate viral status and has surpassed 340 million downloads to date. This independent developer has made a significant impact on the industry, garnering over twelve prestigious local and international honors. Notable among these are the Apple Design Award for their breakout hit and the title of 2015 Studio of the Year from the Australian Game Developers Awards. Throughout its journey, Hipster Whale has established strategic partnerships with prominent global entities, such as Bandai Namco and Disney, resulting in the production of highly successful titles including PAC-MAN 256 and Disney Crossy Road. The studio maintains its commitment to developing and publishing engaging, accessible entertainment, highlighted by the Apple Arcade exclusive Crossy Road Castle, as well as Piffle, a project realized in collaboration with Mighty Games.
About ATARI
Atari is an interactive entertainment company and an iconic gaming industry brand that transcends generations and audiences. The Company is globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment, and licensed products. Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 400 unique games and franchises, including world-renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Pong®, and RollerCoaster Tycoon®. The Atari family of brands includes game developers Digital Eclipse and Nightdive Studios, the publishing label Infogrames, and the community-based sites AtariAge and MobyGames. Visit us online at www.Atari.com.vAtari shares are listed in France on Euronext Growth Paris (ISIN Code FR00140173Y6, Ticker ALATA) and OTC Pink Current (Ticker PONGF).
About Drake Star
Drake Star is an award-winning global tech investment bank that has completed over 500 transactions since 2003. The Drake Star global team of experienced professionals and senior advisors across offices in New York, Munich, London, Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berlin, West Palm Beach, and Dubai* focuses on mergers & acquisitions and corporate finance services worldwide in Software/SaaS, Artificial Intelligence, HR Tech, Digital Services, FinTech, Digital Media, Industrial Tech, Consumer & Retail Tech and Mobility & Sustainability.
Drake Star is the marketing name for the global investment bank Drake Star Partners Limited and its subsidiaries and affiliates. In the USA, all securities are transacted through Drake Star Securities LLC. In the USA, Drake Star Securities LLC is regulated by FINRA and is a member of SIPC. Drake Star UK Limited (FRN 942020) is an appointed representative of Razlin Ltd (FRN 730805), which is authorized and regulated by the FCA. © 2026 Drake Star Partners Limited.
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