So much of what makes modern RPGs great can be traced back to the earliest games that defined the genre. From TTRPGs like Dungeons & Dragons to early CRPGs from the 1980s, this beloved genre has its roots in the early days of gaming. And one franchise that truly set the stage for modern CRPGs is almost certainly about to make a comeback thanks to a new acquisition.
On May 6th, Business Wire reported that Atari has acquired the rights to the Wizardry RPG series. This franchise began with the 1981 release of Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord. It went on to span 8 main series games, plus a handful of spin-offs, before the franchise went dormant around 2001. Now, Atari is gearing up to celebrate the originals and bring the IP back to center stage through a series of new projects. Here’s what we know so far.
As one of the earliest CRPGs, the Wizardry series looms large with its influence on modern games. The franchise is often credited with setting the standard for party-based mechanics like those in Baldur’s Gate 3, as well as solidifying the concept of a dungeon crawl. Most of the original games have only ever been available for PC, with a handful released for retro consoles like the NES. As such, the series has been pretty difficult to revisit up to now.
In 2024, Atari took a first stab at bringing Wizardry back to the forefront with its award-winning remake of Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord. Now, it looks like the gaming company wants to build on that project in a big way. According to Business Wire, Atari has acquired exclusive rights to the first 5 games in the Wizardry series. The deal includes spells, characters, monsters, and places from the RPG franchise, along with “other related intellectual property.” The deal does not include the more recent Wizardry games (6, 7, and 8), which remain the intellectual property of Drecom.
From the sounds of it, Atari has big plans for what it wants to do with those rights. Atari is reportedly planning to “bring these genre-defining games back to market” with a variety of projects, including “remasters, collections, and new releases.” That means we will likely see modern ports of many of these original, definitive CRPGs. Not only that, but it sounds like Atari is planning to bring the dormant IP back to life with brand-new titles, as well. If they play their cards right, we could have the next Baldur’s Gate 3 on our hands there.
In addition to games, Atari is exploring a multi-media approach to reviving the Wizardry IP. The re-released and new games will be accompanied by other types of merch, including “card and board games, books and comics, and TV and film projects.” For fans of the original Wizardry games and RPG enthusiasts eager to fall into a new world, this could be a pretty exciting development from one of the oldest, genre-defining RPGs out there.
As of now, no specific projects related to this acquisition have been confirmed. However, it’s likely we’ll hear something about this proposed comeback for Wizardry soon enough.
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