When I heard that Atari and Universal Pictures struck a deal to develop up to 10 movies inspired by classic Atari properties, my first thought wasn't excitement—it was curiosity.
Then excitement kicked in because of that curiosity.
The thought of Atari going hard on the big screen is genuinely cool. These are games that helped shape the video game industry, and after decades of seeing gaming become one of the biggest entertainment industries in the world, it's nice to see one of its pioneers getting another moment in the spotlight.
The films are being developed through Universal Pictures and Entertainment 360, with the goal of creating original, large-scale adventures inspired by these classic Atari properties rather than simply recreating the original games.
I honestly can't wait to see what they come up with.
But... I'd have one request.
Please don't overlook Yars Rising.
Now I'm not saying Universal should replace Yars' Revenge with Yars Rising. If Yars Rising isn't part of this particular deal, that's perfectly fine.
What I am saying is that someone—whether it's Universal, another studio, or even an animation company—should seriously consider bringing Yars Rising to the big screen someday. The game already has everything a movie needs in my opinion.
Keep It 100...
Many of Atari's earliest games were created during a time when storytelling simply wasn't the priority.
Video games were still finding their footing to become the stepping stones that got us here.
Developers were working with hardware that had tiny amounts of memory, limited storage, and graphics capabilities that today's smartphones could outmuscle without breaking a sweat. Those technical limitations meant gameplay came first, while storytelling often had to take a back seat.
That's not criticism, it's just a part of history. Those games helped build the industry.
Fast forward to today, and Atari's modern releases have access to hardware capable of delivering cinematic cutscenes, voice acting, memorable characters, rich environments, and stories that can unfold over dozens of hours. That's evolution.
And... that's one reason why Yars Rising caught my attention.
Some Titles Just Sound Better Than Others
I'm going to keep it real.
Outside of Yars' Revenge, some of those original Atari game titles still give off "$0.99 movie rack" vibes. Not because the games themselves weren't important (far from it).
But if someone who's never played video games hears titles like Adventure, Breakout, or Pong, those names alone don't immediately scream, "I need to buy a ticket opening weekend."
Fortunately, movie titles can always evolve.
Hollywood changes titles, adds subtitles, and rebrands stories all the time.
The important part is creating a film people genuinely want to watch.
According to Deadline, the lineup includes:
- Asteroids
- Adventure
- Berzerk
- Breakout
- Centipede
- Crystal Castles
- Millipede
- Missile Command
- Pong
- Yars' Revenge
Yars Rising... is a prime example!
This is where I think Atari already has something special.
In Yars Rising, players take control of Emi Kimura, a young hacker hired by a mysterious client to infiltrate the shadowy QoTech Corporation.
That's not just a game premise... that's the setup for a movie. Emi already has personality, her friends have personality and the dialogue is entertaining.
The mystery hooks you as the story unfolds and the world continues expanding. By the time the credits roll, it's easy to imagine the story continuing beyond the game and clear into a sequel. Even the way she hacks, could be presented in a similar way to the game... but there could be an AI sidekick or something to take on the systems security.
Whether it would become a live-action film or an animated feature, Yars Rising already feels like it was designed with storytelling in mind.
Hollywood spends millions of dollars developing original science-fiction ideas every year.
Atari already has one... sitting inside a modern video game developed by WayForward.
Nostalgia Is Great... But So Is Evolution!
I completely understand why Universal is beginning with Atari's classic catalog.
Those games helped define an era, and I'm genuinely interested to see what the filmmakers create with them. At the same time, Atari has been trying to evolve.
Under CEO Wade Rosen, the company has embraced modern reimaginings and brand-new experiences alongside its legendary classics. Games like Lunar Lander Beyond, Missile Command Delta, Adventure of Samsara, and especially Yars Rising show that Atari isn't just preserving its legacy—it's continuing to build on it. These titles sound more like they're big screen ready (with a tweak to Adventure of Samsara's title).
It's all good though, press forward! Because it could mean that a great Atari movie might come from a modern release one of these days.
Whether Yars Rising ever becomes part of Universal's plans or finds its way to another studio entirely, I genuinely hope it gets its chance also.
Some games are remembered because they changed history.
Others deserve to be remembered because they're ready for the next chapter. For me, Yars Rising feels like one of those games.
And if it ever makes its way to the big screen... I'm down to check it out.
Atari Makes Universal Movie Deal For 10 Iconic Game Properties | Deadline
+ Sophi
