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

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Atari has acquired the rights to the original five Wizardry games. They plan to release collections and updated versions of these classic titles both as physical copies and digital downloads, and also hinted at creating entirely new games in the Wizardry 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

Hey everyone, just wanted to share an update on Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord. Remember that awesome full 3D remake Digital Eclipse did? Well, after being in Early Access last year, it officially launched on PC and consoles back in May. It’s still available to play, but I noticed something interesting – a couple of months ago, in March, they updated the Steam page and added Atari as the publisher. Pretty cool to see that classic title getting some continued support!

Atari confirmed in a statement that Drecom still owns the rights to Wizardry VI, VII, and VIII. Drecom also asserts that they continue to hold the trademarks for the entire Wizardry series, both in Japan and internationally.

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, including 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).

This incredibly important series, known as both ‘Original Wizardry’ and ‘The Llylgamyn Saga,’ is considered the foundation of Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs). The purchase includes not only these classic games, but also the rights to future games and 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 reintroduce these classic games with wider digital and physical availability, including updated versions, collections, and brand new releases. Beyond just games, Atari plans to expand into merchandise like board games, books, comics, and even TV and film, all as part of a larger strategy to build 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 Wizardry in the 1980s, the video game industry was just beginning. Their games were among the first to bring the experience of role-playing to home computers and consoles. Now, as Atari releases the games on modern platforms for new players, Woodhead is eager to see how gamers respond to this classic, challenging experience.

Atari’s CEO, Wade Rosen, explained that the classic RPG series Wizardry has had a big impact on gaming, but many of the original games haven’t been available for over 20 years. He stated the company is thrilled to be able to bring these 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 titles.

As a longtime fan, I was so excited to see Atari and Digital Eclipse bring back the very first Wizardry game last year! They did an amazing job updating the original Apple II version – it’s still got that classic feel, but with a fresh look thanks to modern graphics. It’s awesome that they kept what made the original so special while making it accessible for players on today’s PCs and consoles. It really introduced a whole new generation to Wizardry, and even won a Grammy for its incredible music! The original fans loved it, and I think that says a lot.

Drecom’s press release

Recent reports claiming Atari has acquired the rights to the “Wizardry” franchise are inaccurate. Drecom, the current owner of the “Wizardry” trademarks in Japan and other countries, has no plans to sell these 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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2026-05-07 15:28