Atari has appointed former CTO Andreas Deptolla as president of Atari Europe.
On this new function, Deptolla will oversee Atari’s European operations, which consists of roughly 100 staff, together with studios within the UK and Sweden. He may even proceed to handle Atari’s European headquarters in Munster.
Deptolla will report to Atari CEO and chairman Wade Rosen. Richard Snowdon, CEO of Coatsink, has been named vice president of Atari Europe and will report to Deptolla.
“Since becoming a member of Atari in 2023, Andreas has established himself as a valued and influential chief, contributing to the corporate’s revitalisation,” mentioned Rosen.
“On this expanded function, Andreas will direct our rising European enterprise footprint and play a key function in establishing Atari as an iconic gaming and popular culture model.”
Talking to GamesIndustry.biz, Deptolla outlined his imaginative and prescient for Atari Europe and its strategy to supporting acquired studios and sport firms.
Final 12 months, Atari entered a $5.2 million subscription settlement with Thunderful, buying an 82% stake.
“We’re not buying firms for them to lose their operations and don’t have any steerage,” says Deptolla.
“What’s actually vital for us is how we outline one distinctive tradition. All people appears at our core values and how we implement our methods, which suggests studios can focus on what they do very well. We will are available on sure issues like whether or not it is finance, HR, authorized, or publishing, the place we’ve a muscle within the regulation of experience.”
“Once you purchase firms, you will have to assess what the present scenario is. The primary order of enterprise for us is to make sure that all the things a studio is working on is proper and world-class IP. We have made actually good progress on that. Whether or not that is early teaching or discovering the correct titles, our personal IP, licensed IP, or IP to purchase so as to set them up for achievement, as a result of that is what the employers care about.”
Relating to his objectives as president, Deptolla goals to uphold the “one Atari” idea throughout the corporate.
“There is vital alternative in Europe,” he says. “There is a wealth of talent right here, so our focus is on how we are able to leverage and support it. Every area, together with the UK, Germany, and Sweden, gives distinctive benefits such as grants and tax credit.
“We’re additionally exploring how we are able to increase distribution, licensing, and partnerships in Europe, all via natural development.”