As the recession continues to hit the games industry quite hard, many of the software houses that were already struggling are teetering on collapse. Atari, at least, looks as though it'll be saved thanks to a buyout from Japanese gaming giant Namco Bandai.

Atari is one of the oldest gaming brands still in existence, though it's changed hands a good many times since Nolan Bushnell first sat in the captain's chair. The company's European operation will soon come under Namco's ever-increasing banner when it buys up the remaining shares from Infrgrames on top of the 34 per cent it already owns.

Atari's European marketing staff will apparently be safe, however, as they'll be transferred into a newly-formed Distribution Partners division, handling Namco's products in Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

According to MCV, former Take Two, THQ ans EA executive John Galloway will take up the reins for Distribution Partners.