Run, Gun, and Sneak Through a Shadowy Organization's Sinister Web of Lies
New York, NY (September 10, 2024) — Today, acclaimed developer WayForward and publisher Atari are proud to launch Yars Rising, the newest entry in the decades-spanning Yars universe. Yars Rising is now available on PC via Steam and Epic Games, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4|5, and Atari VCS.
Join young black hat hacker Emi "Yar" Kimura as she unravels a deep secret and her surprising link to an enigmatic alien race. After being hired by a mysterious entity to infiltrate the QoTech corporation, Emi realizes she's taken on more than she bargained for after she's taken captive inside the company's colossal headquarters.
Navigate through an array of challenges, puzzles, and boss fights, supported by Emi's team of eclectic friends, to unravel what QoTech's been working so hard to keep secret — including powerful biohacks that may just change everything for Emi.
"I'm eager for players to meet Emi Kimura, the star of Yars Rising," said James Montagna, Game Director of Yars Rising." As a cyber criminal for hire, she's far from your typical hero, but her sharp wit and endearing awkwardness make her impossible not to root for. Emi's charm draws you in, and I'm certain she'll become a beloved character for gamers everywhere."
"The enthusiastic response to Yars Rising has been very gratifying; we know that fans are as excited for the release of Yars Rising as we are," said Wade Rosen, Atari Chairman and CEO.
This newest installment in the Yars universe delivers a wholly reimagined experience that blends past, present, and future, establishing a unique take on metroidvania gameplay with stealth and hacking-based sequences that progress the story and map exploration. With gameplay that rewards both stealth and run-and-gun strategies, unlockable upgrades and abilities, and unique genre mash-up mechanics, Yars Rising creates some new rules and breaks some old ones, just as its predecessor did.
Key Features of Yars Rising Include:
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Otherworldly Abilities: Emi must jump, blast, and sneak her way past waves of robotic and alien enemies. Her latent powers are revealed as she progresses, granting her wild augments and biohacks to reach inaccessible areas.
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Stealth Traversal: Emi can't always shoot or jump her way out of a jam — tense sections of stealth gameplay force her to skillfully duck into the shadows to hide from relentless security bots.
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Sci-fi Intrigue: A seemingly bottomless mystery takes Emi from drab office buildings into underground labs and even to the farthest reaches of space as she uncovers the dark truth behind the QoTech corporation. A sprawling, interconnected map allows for hours upon hours of gameplay.
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Genre Mix: A metroidvania at its core, Yars Rising progresses the story with a series of hacking minigames paying homage to the original Yars' Revenge, along with other levels and boss battles that take Emi far and beyond her "normal" adventure, like fight scenes and turn-based battles.
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/
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About WayForward
Founded in 1990 by Voldi Way, WayForward has become one of the biggest independent developers in the video game industry and home to some of the finest talent in the business. The company got its start during the PC, Super NES, and Genesis era of gaming, rode the educational CD-ROM wave through the '90s, and eventually found its way back onto handhelds and consoles. Wayforward built its reputation on solid gaming fundamentals, feature-quality character animation, and the ability to faithfully turn any brand into interactive entertainment – including original properties of our own design, adaptations of comic book and Hollywood favorites, and exciting new entries in classic gaming franchises.
About Atari
Atari is an interactive entertainment company and an iconic gaming industry brand that transcends generations and audiences. The company is globally recognized for its multi-platform, interactive entertainment, and licensed products. Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 200 unique games and franchises, including world-renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Pong®, and RollerCoaster Tycoon®. The Atari family of brands includes game developers Digital Eclipse and Nightdive Studios, the publishing label Infogrames, and the community-based sites AtariAge and MobyGames. Atari has offices in New York and Paris. Visit us online at www.Atari.com.
Atari shares are listed in France on Euronext Growth Paris (ISIN Code FR0010478248, Ticker ALATA) and OTC Pink Current (Ticker PONGF).
©2024 Atari Interactive, Inc. Atari wordmark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.
