WayForward is making Yars Rising, a metroidvania based on Atari’s Yars’ Revenge

WayForward is working on a new game based on classic Atari shooter Yars’ Revenge.

The original 1982 game was released on the Atari 2600 and was a single-screen shoot ’em up in which players controlled an insectoid called a Yar and shot through a barrier to destroy a boss character called a Qotile.

The new game, called Yars Rising, will be a completely different adventure set in the same universe, and will instead be a side-scrolling metroidvania-type game.

“In Yars Rising, players take control of the young hacker Emi Kimura, who is hired by a mysterious patron to infiltrate the shadowy Qotech corporation,” publisher Atari’s description reads.

“Run, jump, sneak, and hack your way through challenges to unravel layers of intrigue in this expansive sci-fi mystery.

“Embark on Emi’s journey to decipher the mystery of the corporation’s closely guarded secret and uncover her inexplicable bond to a far-off alien race.”

Yars Rising will be released in late 2024 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC and the 2021 reimagining of the Atari VCS.

Wayforward is best-known for its side-scrolling 2D action games and its preference for sprite-based characters over polygonal ones.

The studio’s most popular titles include the Shantae series, River City Girls, Mighty Switch Force, DuckTales Remastered and the recently released Contra: Operation Galuga.

“Wayforward’s proven story-telling and world-building powers made them a perfect choice for reimagining one of Atari’s most enduring game franchises,” Atari chairman and CEO Wade Rosen said in a statement.

“I am confident that fans are going to enjoy this new, dynamic chapter in the Yars storyline, Yars Rising.”