Atari has acquired Implicit Conversions, the Delaware-based emulation studio behind some of the most respected classic PlayStation ports of recent years. The deal — completed on April 23 — adds another piece to Atari's increasingly serious push into the retro gaming and emulation business.
Implicit Conversions is best known for its proprietary Syrup Engine, an advanced emulation framework that powers ports of 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit era titles to modern systems. The studio's most recent high-profile credits include the three PS1 games featured in Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, as well as work on Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition. Both of those projects came in collaboration with Atari subsidiary Digital Eclipse, making this acquisition feel less like a surprise and more like the natural next step.
Three Engines, One Strategy
The acquisition gives Atari an enviable suite of in-house emulation technology. Speaking on the deal, CEO Wade Rosen positioned the move as a complement to Atari's existing tech portfolio: "Alongside the Bakesale Engine (Digital Eclipse) and the Kex Engine (Nightdive), we now have an enviable suite of proprietary tools, and more engineering talent that will enable us to continue to expand our capabilities across our own catalog as well as the back catalogs of our IP partners."
That trio of engines covers the spectrum of classic gaming: Digital Eclipse's Bakesale handles arcade and early home console eras, Nightdive's Kex Engine specializes in PC-era 3D shooters and adventure games, and Implicit Conversions' Syrup brings PS1-era ports up to modern standards. Together, they put Atari in a uniquely strong position to revive practically any classic catalog its IP partners are willing to license.
The Roadmap: Pancake, Waffle, and Benedict
Implicit Conversions' work doesn't slow down with the acquisition. The studio continues developing what it codenames Pancake (its PS1 emulation framework, already shipping in commercial products), with Waffle — its in-development PS2 layer — close behind. Looking further ahead, the team has begun early work on Benedict, a future PS3 emulation effort. PS3 emulation remains one of the trickier engineering problems in commercial retro gaming, so a serious, well-resourced effort there could unlock entire generations of classics for new audiences.
Co-founders Robin Lavallée and Bill Litshauer are staying on under new titles. Lavallée steps into the Studio Head role, while Litshauer becomes Head of Operations. Atari has emphasized that the studio will retain its identity and continue executing its own roadmap, with the acquisition primarily aimed at securing resources and expanding scope rather than restructuring the team.
Why This Matters for Retro Fans
For anyone who has waded through the inconsistent quality of classic PlayStation re-releases over the years — from forgettable mini consoles to sluggish, framerate-locked digital store ports — Atari consolidating the talent behind some of the best recent emulation work is genuinely meaningful. Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection's PS1 entries earned widespread praise for their accuracy, frame timing, and feel. The promise of that same level of care being applied to a wider catalog of classic PlayStation titles is, on paper, one of the more exciting trends in retro gaming right now.
Atari hasn't announced specific upcoming projects tied to the acquisition, but with Pancake mature, Waffle in active development, and IP partnerships continuing to expand, the next year or two of classic PlayStation revivals are starting to look more interesting than they have in a long time.
