Atari has outlined a new direction for its games business.

In a release to its investors, the newly-appointed CEO of the company's new Atari Gaming division – Wade Rosen (pictured) – has said that the firm is going to be focusing on premium titles for PC and console. The firm is going to be shutting down or selling off its free-to-play projects, such as Roller Coaster Tycoon, Ninja Golf, and Atari Combat: Tank Fury.

”Our intent with any gaming experience is to provide accessible and joyful moments of meaningful play," Rosen said.

"That’s the core of Atari and what binds our history with our future. To that end, we feel that premium gaming is better representative of this type of gaming experience and the Atari DNA. Despite this new focus on premium gaming, we remain committed to growing and expanding our successful free-to-play games that we have in the market. These changes will impact our 2020/21 financials and will generate a €5 million write-off for the financial year ending march 31st 2021. This reorientation will give Atari a unique opportunity to be the bridge between the past and the future of video games, and I look forward to driving these changes.”

Atari announced in April that it was dividing itself into two divisions, Atari Gaming and Atari Blockchain. The former will handle its video games business, while the latter is covering blockchain-related sectors, such as NFTs and cryptocurrency.