via IGN


Today Atari and 1C Company announced a distribution deal through which Atari will distribute and co-publish 1C's games in North America. 1C is a major publisher and distributor of computer games in Russia and Eastern and Central Europe.

While 1C primarily provides PC games like the IL-2 Sturmovik series, the deal applies to all consoles and handhelds, as well. Expect to see the first games from the two publishers released later this year.

"Developers in the Russian and Eastern Europe market are burgeoning with a slew of innovative and engaging games. 1C has demonstrated the special ability to source, develop and nurture these products," said Robert Stevenson, VP of Business Development and Third Party at Atari. "Leveraging our strength in software distribution and our relationship with 1C, we believe that we will offer our retail partners a wider array of products that appeal to the broad tastes of gamers in North America."

Early last year, in a last-ditch attempt to keep from going under, Atari sold off several studios and game franchises in an effort to refocus its creative efforts on external studios.