Atari Claims Rights to Wizardry I–V as Drecom Disputes Franchise Control

Overview

• Atari said Thursday it bought complete, exclusive rights to Wizardry I–V and their underlying IP, naming the 1981–1988 titles from Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord through Heart of the Maelstrom.
• Drecom countered that it still owns the Wizardry trademark worldwide and retains the later mainline entries VI, VII, and VIII.
• The company added that Atari told it the purchase of I–V came from an “original rights holder,” not Drecom, which leaves who controls the brand unresolved.
• Atari outlined plans for re-releases, remasters, collections, and new games plus merchandise, tabletop projects, books, comics, and TV or film.
• The split highlights how copyright, publishing rights, and trademarks can belong to different owners, which could require cross-licensing or slow releases after decades of limited access despite a 2024 remake by Atari-owned Digital Eclipse.