5 votes

Atari makes Universal movie deal for ten iconic game properties

Posted by cloud_loud
Tags: usa, business, hollywood, movie studios, universal.pictures, video games, atari, intellectual property, author.mike fleming jr, source.deadline, short read
https://deadline.com/2026/07/atari-universal-deal-10-game-ip-script-matt-reilly-carl-hampe-entertainment-360-1237001656/

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Title
Atari Signs Deal With Universal To Turn 10 Iconic Games Into Movies
Authors
Mike Fleming Jr
Published
Jul 23 2026
Word count
286 words

9 comments

  1. [7]
    DFGdanger
    Link
    Asteroids Adventure Berzerk Breakout Centipede Crystal Castles Millipede Missile Command Pong Yars’ Revenge
    • Asteroids
    • Adventure
    • Berzerk
    • Breakout
    • Centipede
    • Crystal Castles
    • Millipede
    • Missile Command
    • Pong
    • Yars’ Revenge
    1 vote
    1. [3]
      hamstergeddon
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      My kneejerk reaction is that all of these are completely useless IPs. A bunch of games without any story to them...a few familiar sprites here and there...but that's about it? Like aside from...

      My kneejerk reaction is that all of these are completely useless IPs. A bunch of games without any story to them...a few familiar sprites here and there...but that's about it? Like aside from calling it "Asteroids" (which would have little selling power) what would you do with an Asteroids movie that you couldn't legally do with any generic space movie that includes a reference to the original game?

      It's like when they made Battleship....why did that need the board game's IP? You could've made a naval alien movie and thrown in those exact same references without infringing on the IP....

      The only thing that would be interesting there is if they did like "how it was made" type movie like the Tetris movie from a few years back. But I don't think buying the IP would be sufficient since it'd be the story of real people. Or like a Wreck-It-Ralph type thing where it's ALL THE IP at once as the setting..but then you're just retreading old ground.

      5 votes
      1. Grenno
        Link Parent
        Do you get a discount for Centipede if you already paid for Millipede? Is one more valuable than the other? I also can't wrap my mind around basing anything on these IPs.

        Do you get a discount for Centipede if you already paid for Millipede? Is one more valuable than the other? I also can't wrap my mind around basing anything on these IPs.

        1 vote
      2. cloud_loud
        Link Parent
        Also they’re old as fuck. Screams of a boomer thinking any video game IP is going to be Mario or Minecraft.

        Also they’re old as fuck. Screams of a boomer thinking any video game IP is going to be Mario or Minecraft.

        1 vote
    2. [2]
      whbboyd
      Link Parent
      I'm somewhat disappointed ET isn't in here. It would make absolutely no sense, of course, but it would also be hilarious.

      I'm somewhat disappointed ET isn't in here. It would make absolutely no sense, of course, but it would also be hilarious.

      1 vote
      1. Omnicrola
        Link Parent
        Now I'm imagining this as a video game version of The Producers. Studio sets out to make the worst possible movie in order to claim tax loss, accidently create something so bad it's good and...

        Now I'm imagining this as a video game version of The Producers. Studio sets out to make the worst possible movie in order to claim tax loss, accidently create something so bad it's good and becomes a runaway hit.

        ....and then the mandatory sequel is actually garbage.

    3. Grayscail
      Link Parent
      Pong? Theyre making a movie about Pong??

      Pong?

      Theyre making a movie about Pong??

  2. ShroudedScribe
    Link
    I wonder if Atari is thinking this will help propel their hotel venture. I'm skeptical as to if it will ever even be fully built.

    I wonder if Atari is thinking this will help propel their hotel venture. I'm skeptical as to if it will ever even be fully built.

  3. CannibalisticApple
    Link
    ...you know, I'm still skeptical, but they have a point. Most of these games are so barebones that there's infinite possibility for crafting a story. They're (mostly) not constrained by an...

    "Matt Reilly and I grew up playing Atari 2600 games and have remained fans ever since," said Casady. "The best Atari games dropped you into a world and let your imagination do the rest. Carl and Matt saw an opportunity to take that same spirit and build an original, large-scale adventure around it. From the moment we read the screenplay, we believed there was a great movie here."

    ...you know, I'm still skeptical, but they have a point. Most of these games are so barebones that there's infinite possibility for crafting a story. They're (mostly) not constrained by an existing plot, and the simple graphics there's no pressure to make visuals that match some specific image.

    The challenge is making them still recognizable and relevant to the gamez. Some are really obvious and easy (Crystal Castles just needs... Well, a crystal castle, Centipede and Millipede just need monsters to fight that match the title, and from what a quick skim of Wikipedia Yars' Revenge actually has a plot), but others... Genuinely curious how the heck they plan to make a movie about Pong and Breakout.

    I do wonder if they plan to combine some IPs rather than make 10 movies. Or maybe they had to license them as a bundle for some reason.