Nightdive’s Stephen Kick argues that acquisitions should preserve a studio’s strengths

The Nightdive CEO credits Atari with taking over payroll and tax responsibilities. He says this lets his team concentrate on remaking and remastering classic games.

Game Developer published its Stephen Kick interview on October 27, after speaking with him at PAX West. Kick contrasts operational support from a parent with pressure to redirect a studio towards fashionable business models.

He connects Nightdive’s work with the audience for modern retro-inspired shooters: new releases can introduce players to the games that influenced them. That is his explanation of a complementary market, not a measured attribution of sales.

Kick is describing his own studio under its current owner and has an interest in presenting that relationship positively. His view offers a specific integration model without proving it guarantees the survival or profitability of acquired studios.