Infogrames
French publisher
Notable Games
Company History
Infogrames Entertainment SA was a French video game developer and publisher founded on June 28, 1983, by Bruno Bonnell and Christophe Sapet in Lyon, France. The company's name was derived from "informatique" (computing) and "grammes" (programs), reflecting its origins as a software development firm during the early years of the European home computer revolution. Infogrames initially developed games for French home computers like the Thomson MO5 and TO7, establishing itself as one of the leading game developers in the Francophone market. The company gained international recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s through critically acclaimed titles.
North & South (1989), a strategy game based on the American Civil War, became a beloved multiplayer classic across European platforms. The company's most historically significant creation was the Alone in the Dark series, debuting in 1992, which is widely recognized as the progenitor of the survival horror genre, predating Resident Evil by several years. rick Raynal and his team, Alone in the Dark pioneered the use of 3D character models over pre-rendered backgrounds, fixed camera angles for atmospheric tension, and resource-limited combat against supernatural enemies, establishing conventions that would define survival horror for decades. P.
Lovecraft and combined polygon characters with pre-rendered 2D backgrounds, a technique enhancing visual quality while remaining feasible on contemporary hardware. Infogrames grew aggressively through acquisitions throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, pursuing a strategy to become one of the world's largest gaming companies. Notable acquisitions included Ocean Software (1996), Gremlin Interactive (1999), GT Interactive (1999, bringing rights to Unreal and other properties), Hasbro Interactive (2001, which included the Atari brand and library), and Shiny Entertainment. The Hasbro Interactive acquisition proved particularly significant, bringing ownership of the Atari brand, one of the most iconic names in gaming history.
In 2003, Infogrames began rebranding its North American operations under the Atari name. The company also developed particular expertise in licensed properties based on European cultural properties, including the Asterix and Tintin franchises, and published the V-Rally racing series. By 2009 the parent company itself was renamed Atari SA, completing the absorption of the Infogrames identity into the Atari brand. Throughout this period of expansion, the company experienced significant financial turbulence with multiple restructurings.
Multiple studios acquired by Infogrames were eventually closed or sold. The legacy of Infogrames lives on through Atari SA, though the modern Atari entity bears little operational resemblance to the original French software house.
Behind the Scenes
Infogrames' development journey is a fascinating study in ambition, acquisition, and identity transformation within the global gaming industry. Founded in Lyon by Bruno Bonnell, a charismatic entrepreneur with grand visions for the French gaming industry, Infogrames began as a small development house creating games for a primarily domestic audience. The company's early titles for Thomson computers were tailored to French educational and entertainment software markets, but Bonnell's ambitions extended far beyond France. rick Raynal was a watershed moment not only for the company but for the entire gaming industry.
Raynal, inspired by Lovecraft, created a game combining 3D polygon characters with pre-rendered 2D backgrounds, a technique that dramatically enhanced visual quality. The emphasis on atmosphere, puzzle-solving, and resource management over pure action combat created a template that Capcom would later refine with Resident Evil. it essentially invented the survival horror genre and demonstrated that European developers could create globally significant, genre-defining titles. Alone in the Dark spawned sequels including Alone in the Dark 2 (1993) and Alone in the Dark 3 (1994), though these shifted more toward action-oriented gameplay.
North & South showcased Infogrames' ability to create accessible, entertaining strategy games that could appeal beyond the traditional strategy gaming audience, mixing real-time action sequences with turn-based strategic planning in a format that made the American Civil War approachable and fun. Bonnell's acquisition strategy in the late 1990s was breathtakingly ambitious, transforming Infogrames from a mid-sized European publisher into a global gaming conglomerate. The purchase of GT Interactive in 1999 brought a catalog of Western games and publishing rights. The Hasbro Interactive acquisition vaulted Infogrames into the upper echelon of the industry.
The decision to adopt the Atari brand was strategically motivated by the name's global recognition and nostalgic value, though it was controversial among those who felt the historic Atari identity was being co-opted by a fundamentally different company. The financial strain of these acquisitions, combined with the general industry downturn of the early 2000s, led to significant challenges. Infogrames' publishing arm during its peak years handled a vast array of titles across all major platforms, including the Test Drive series, Mission: Impossible games, and various Hasbro board game adaptations. The company also published Civilization: Call to Power and maintained relationships with external studios developing licensed properties.
ensures its permanent place in gaming history. The company demonstrated that French and broader European development talent could compete on the world stage and create genres that would shape the industry for decades.
About Infogrames
Infogrames is a merged game development company founded on June 28, 1983 and headquartered in .
Known for creating iconic titles such as Alone in the Dark, North & South, Alone in the Dark 2 and more, Infogrames has left an indelible mark on the video game industry.