Atari acquires Crossy Road maker Hipster Whale for an initial $29.3m

Australian Crossy Road maker Hipster Whale has a new owner: Atari.

The deal is worth $29.3m, of which $3.3m will be paid in Atari shares. Earnouts over the next three years will bring the price up another $10m if Hipster Whale hits its targets.

For the twelve months ended January 31 2026, Hipster Whale generated $8.28m in revenue and $4.63m in profits, as measured by EBITDA. Atari expects the acquisition to be completed in the coming days.

Hipster Whale scored a breakout hit with its debut title Crossy Road, which the firm says has generated over 340m lifetime downloads. It also released Pac-Man 256, Disney Crossy Road, Peggle-like title Piffle and Apple Arcade game Crossy Road Castle.

Hipster Whale co-founder Matt Hall is expected to lead Atari’s mobile development efforts once the deal closes. Atari is working on mobile-related projects for Netflix, Amazon and AirConsole’s in-car gaming platform, the announcement says.

The Melbourne, Australia-based mobile studio joins retro remake specialists Digital Eclipse and Nightdive Studios in Atari’s portfolio of companies. The retro brand has made a comeback in recent years under the stewardship of CEO Wade Rosen.

“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 Atari chairman and CEO Rosen. “The acquisition of Hipster Whale is a significant milestone in Atari’s growth plan.”

Hipster Whale cofounder Matt Hall added: “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 340m 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.”