Yars Rising Arrives From Atari and WayForward

Written by Brandon Hofer on September 12, 2024

News: A new adventure in the “Yars” universe is now available with “Metroidvania” gameplay and a mix of other genres.

WayForward and Atari have released Yars Rising, the newest entry in the decades-spanning Yars universe. In Yars Rising, gamers 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.

Players will have to 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 the “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:

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.

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.

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.

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.
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.

Check out the trailer and tell us what you think. Will you play Yars Rising?