Atari announced it has acquired the complete and exclusive rights, along with the underlying intellectual property, for the first five seminal Wizardry games. The titles included in this acquisition are 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). Atari's plans involve bringing these classic titles back through various distribution methods, including remasters, collections, and new game releases, as well as developing merchandise, board games, books, comics, and potential television and film projects.
Following Atari's announcement, Japanese developer Drecom, which acquired the copyrights and trademarks for the Wizardry series in 2020, released a statement clarifying its position. Drecom denied reports that Atari had acquired trademark rights to the Wizardry IP. The company confirmed it was aware of Atari's acquisition of the first five games from the original rights holder but asserted that it has no intention of selling its trademark rights and will continue to manage the Wizardry IP brand globally.
Atari provided further clarification, stating that it acquired the rights to the first five games, which are considered the formative titles and universe most fans are familiar with. However, the company acknowledged that Drecom owns the Wizardry trademark. Atari also noted that Wizardry titles 6, 7, and 8 are owned by Drecom and are based on a different fictional universe. The original Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord was co-created by Robert Woodhead and the late Andrew C. Greenberg, and its 3D remake launched in May 2024, later winning a Grammy Award for its soundtrack.
The Wizardry franchise, known for inspiring numerous RPGs in both Western and Japanese markets, remains popular, particularly in Japan where spin-off titles are more numerous than main series entries. The franchise also saw an OVA adaptation in 1991.
Source: Anime News Network(https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-05-10/atari-announces-acquisition-of-first-5-wizardry-games-drecom-denies-overall-trademark-acquisition-/.237140)
