Atari acquires rights to the first five Wizardry games, planning remasters and new releases; Drecom responds

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Okay, so this is awesome news! Atari just announced they own the rights to the original five Wizardry games! They’re hinting at releasing collections and remasters – both physical copies and digital downloads, which is great. But the best part? They’re also planning on making completely new Wizardry games! As a long-time fan, I’m seriously hyped to see what they do with this classic series.

The five games covered in this announcement are as follows:

  1. Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
  2. Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds
  3. Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn
  4. Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna
  5. Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom

Just a heads-up: Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord received a complete 3D remake from Digital Eclipse. It launched on PC and consoles in May 2024 after being available in Early Access throughout 2023, and it’s still available to purchase. We recently noticed that the Steam page was updated in March to list Atari as the publisher.

So, Atari put out a statement saying that Drecom still owns Wizardry VI, VII, and VIII. But here’s the thing – Drecom is also saying they still own the rights to the Wizardry name and logo, not just in Japan, but everywhere! It’s a bit confusing, but basically both companies are claiming ownership of parts of the franchise.

The press releases, featuring comments from Wizardry co-creator Robert Woodhead, are available below.

Atari’s press release

Atari, a well-known brand in video games and interactive entertainment, has acquired the full rights to the original five Wizardry games. This includes Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981), Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds (1982), Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn (1983), Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna (1987), and Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom (1988), as well as all related intellectual property.

This incredibly important series, known as both ‘Original Wizardry’ and ‘The Llylgamyn Saga,’ essentially launched the Japanese role-playing game (RPG) genre. The purchase includes not only the core games but also rights to future games and all other related creative assets.

For over 25 years, developers and fans haven’t been able to access the original Wizardry games for NES, SNES, and PC, or the creative elements from that world – like spells, characters, locations, and monsters.

Atari is thrilled to re-release these classic games through digital and physical copies, as well as updated versions and collections. They also plan to expand beyond games with merchandise like board games, books, comics, and even TV and film projects, all as part of a broader strategy to create a lasting entertainment franchise around the original Wizardry games.

Robert Woodhead, who co-created the Wizardry series, explained that when he and Andrew Greenberg first made the game in the 1980s, the video game industry was just beginning. Wizardry was among the first games to bring the role-playing experience to home computers and consoles. He added that he’s eager to see how gamers respond as Atari releases the games on modern platforms, offering a classic, challenging experience.

Atari CEO Wade Rosen explained that the Wizardry series is a hugely important role-playing game franchise, but many of the original games haven’t been available for over 20 years. He stated that the company is thrilled to have the chance to bring these classic games back with updated versions, console ports, and physical copies.

The video game series Wizardry, specifically titles 6, 7, and 8, is now owned by the Japanese company Drecom. These games take place in a separate fictional world from earlier Wizardry installments.

In 2024, Atari’s Digital Eclipse studio released a refreshed version of the original Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord. This remake cleverly combined updated visuals with the text-based gameplay of the classic Apple II game. It maintained the charm of the original while offering improvements for players on today’s PCs and consoles. The remake was well-received by longtime fans, introduced the game to a new audience, and even won a Grammy Award for its music.

Drecom’s press release

Recent reports claiming Atari has acquired the rights to the “Wizardry” franchise are inaccurate. Drecom Co., Ltd., which owns the “Wizardry” trademarks in Japan and internationally, has no plans to sell those rights or any other related assets.

Atari recently purchased the rights to the first five games in the “Wizardry” series from the company that originally owned them.

The Company will retain ownership of the “Wizardry” trademarks in Japan and other countries, and will continue to be responsible for the “Wizardry” brand.

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2026-05-10 19:27