
Atari has officially purchased the rights to five Ubisoft franchises: I Am Alive, Child of Eden, Cold Fear, Grow Home, and Grow Up. The deal marks a significant move for Atari as it looks to expand its library of classic and cult-favorite games for modern audiences.
According to IGN, Atari will re-release all five titles under its own publishing label, making them available on “new platforms.” While this doesn’t necessarily confirm sequels or new entries, it does mean that fans may finally see these forgotten titles revived on modern consoles.
Ubisoft Games Acquired by Atari
-
I Am Alive (2012) – A post-apocalyptic action-adventure that became a digital hit on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.
-
Child of Eden (2011) – A visually stunning rhythm-based shooter by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, known as the spiritual successor to Rez.
-
Cold Fear (2005) – A survival horror set on a storm-battered ship, one of Ubisoft’s earliest attempts at the genre.
-
Grow Home (2015) – A physics-based climbing platformer starring the quirky robot B.U.D.
-
Grow Up (2016) – The sequel to Grow Home, expanding the world and mechanics of the original.
Commercial Performance of the Franchises
Not all of these games were commercial hits under Ubisoft. Cold Fear sold only around 70,000 units in its first year, while Child of Eden struggled to gain mainstream appeal despite critical praise. I Am Alive fared better, becoming one of the top digital sellers of its release year. Meanwhile, Grow Home and Grow Up gained positive reviews and a dedicated fanbase, cementing their place as beloved indie-style platformers.
Industry Context
The acquisition comes at a time when Ubisoft is struggling financially. For fiscal year 2024–2025, Ubisoft reported a $177.9 million loss and a revenue drop of 20.5% compared to the previous year. The French publisher has since shifted focus toward its strongest IPs—such as Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry—while forming strategic partnerships, including one with Tencent to manage its flagship franchises.
In contrast, Atari has been on a growth trajectory, reporting a 63% revenue increase during the same fiscal period. The publisher has also been acquiring new properties, most recently becoming the majority shareholder of Thunderful Group AB, known for SteamWorld and Lost in Random.
What This Means for Gamers
Atari’s acquisition of these five Ubisoft franchises signals its intent to revive overlooked classics for a new generation of players. With its experience in bringing retro and niche titles back to life, Atari could give these cult favorites the attention they never fully received.
For fans, this may be the long-awaited chance to revisit Cold Fear’s tense survival horror atmosphere, the surreal artistry of Child of Eden, and the quirky charm of Grow Home on today’s consoles.