Atari appoints Matt Hall as EVP of Mobile to drive cross-platform IP porting

Atari has named Matt Hall, co-founder of Hipster Whale and creator of Crossy Road, as EVP of Mobile. Hall reports directly to Atari CEO and chairman Wade Rosen. His mandate covers porting games across PC, console, web and mobile, and building infrastructure for regular mobile releases. The appointment follows Atari's $39.3 million acquisition of Hipster Whale in June.

Atari bought Hipster Whale for $39.3 million in June to expand its mobile offering.
The studio's catalogue includes Crossy Road, Pac-Man 256, Disney Crossy Road and Crossy Road Castle.
Crossy Road Rush, Hipster Whale's newest title, launches on Apple Arcade on November 5.
Atari also cites Early Morning Studios and its RollerCoaster Tycoon mobile games as part of the mobile base.

Hall is tasked with bringing valuable mobile IP to PC, console and web.
He is also responsible for porting Atari's best-performing PC and console games to mobile.
A second part of the role is strengthening Atari's relationships with third-party mobile platforms.
Hall joined Atari earlier this year and has already taken on a leadership position, per Rosen.

Rosen frames the appointment as a response to mobile gaming's maturing competitive landscape.
"As the mobile gaming business continues to mature, we believe that success requires a disciplined strategy, technological optimization, multi-platform design and strong, creative IP." - Wade Rosen, CEO and Chairman, Atari
Hall's own stated focus is applying Crossy Road's lessons across Atari's wider portfolio.

For Service Vendors: Pitch engine-migration and mobile porting capacity to Atari's newly centralized mobile leadership.
For Investors & VC: Add engine portability of catalogue IP to diligence on mobile studio targets.
For Publishers & Developers: Pitch casual mobile IP to Atari for licensing or sale onto console.