Chad Burdette
The 40-year-old video game franchise that began in 1982 with the release of Yars’ Revenge for the Atari 2600 home console is returning
Today, Atari® — one of the world’s most iconic consumer brands and interactive entertainment producers — is delighted to announce a collaboration with renowned development studio WayForward Technologies (Shantae, River City Girls) to create a decidedly modern chapter in the storyline of Yars’ Revenge, Atari’s best-selling first-party game for the 2600. The new title, Yars Rising, is coming to PC and consoles in late 2024.
In an industry first, Atari paired the game cartridge at retail with a comic book. The comic gave players a view into the expansive backstory behind the 8-bit game and set the stage for their on-screen campaign.
Written by Wayforward Game Director Adam Tierney, Yars Rising acts as a prequel to an entirely new Yars story that unfolds within the video game. The comic follows the lead character, professional hacker Emi Kimura, as she and her friends try to navigate the ramifications of a job gone horribly wrong. As the story progresses, readers are given a taste and perhaps some subtle hints about what awaits them in the game.
Yars Rising #1 comic features the creative talents of artists Ele Bruni (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Tea Time, Space Opera), Ashleigh Hetrick (Art Director, WayForward), and Aurora Maeno.
Wade Rosen, Chairman and CEO of Atari said in a press release:
“Wayforward’s proven story-telling and world-building powers made them a perfect choice for reimagining one of Atari’s most enduring game franchises. I am confident that fans are going to enjoy this new, dynamic chapter in the Yars storyline: Yars Rising.”
Yars Rising also features the creative talents of artists Ele Bruni (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Tea Time, Space Opera), Ashleigh Hetrick (Art Director, WayForward), and Aurora Maeno.
Yars Rising is now available worldwide on PC via Steam and Epic Games, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and Atari VCS.
For more information, visit the official website.
Fans can order their physical editions on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch from Amazon globally, Best Buy, GameStop, and Walmart in the United States, and a broad selection of retailers in Europe, The Middle East, and Asia. Find your preferred retailer: https://link.atari.com/buy-yars/
To stay up-to-date on all things Atari and retro-pop culture, follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and join the community on Discord.
