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Riddick: Dark Athena coming early '09, features new 10-hour campaign
click to enlarge It's no secret that Atari rescued Starbreeze Studios' hi-def remake of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay after Activision-Blizzard kicked it to the curb. What you don't know – and we didn't know until we recently saw it in action – is that those added "Dark Athena" levels are quite substantial. They've been expended into an entirely new, 10-plus-hour campaign, complete with new game mechanics, full-game production values ... the works.Starbreeze told us that, despite the game being absent from anyone's radar for quite some time, it never let up on development. In fact, the acquisition of the game by Atari has afforded the team upwards of nine additional months of development time, hence the (essentally) second full game and what the team was visibly ecstatic about: more time to polish every last detail.The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (Escape from Butcher's Bay is still there, looks amazing, and will incorporate new gameplay and tech developed for Dark Athena) is set for release in spring of 2009. Check back tomorrow for our full impressions of the new campaign.%Gallery-38368%
Atari unleashes Tekken 6 and Riddick screens
As part of today's press conference, Atari unloaded a bunch of fresh screenshots for next year's upcoming Tekken 6 and Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. You can view the Tekken and Riddick screens below, but be warned about those Riddick screens. If you thought Gears of War was lacking color, then keep clear of Riddick's drab and dull "color" palette. Actually, it isn't so much a color palette as it is a black to white gradient. %Gallery-38363%%Gallery-35705%
Chronicles of Riddick picked up by Atari, now has brand new campaign
Atari today announced that it will publish The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena from Tigon Studios and The Darkness developer Starbreeze Studios. The title was previously announced as a graphically enhanced remake of the original Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay that would also feature a new chapter and multiplayer support. According to the press release, not only will the game include the remake of the original campaign, but the new chapter has now been expanded to include "a brand new full-length campaign" as well as the previously announced online multiplayer support. We're just going to guess that might be why the game missed its original winter 2007 release date.The newly revamped Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is expected to release in spring 2009. Check out a hi-res version of the first screenshot by clicking the image above.
Riddick remake and (maybe) Ghostbusters go to Atari
Continuing its long climb back to Phil Harrison-lead relevance, Atari has picked up an Acti/Blizzard merger cast off and might have made a home for another, according to Variety. The company will publish Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, adding not only multiplayer but a new campaign to the original Xbox release. "Originally it was just a remake, but we started thinking more and felt that wasn't super compelling," said Bill Kispert, head of interactive for Universal. Yeah, Bill. No kidding. Variety also reports that Atari has picked up long-term licensing rights to Riddick to allow the possibility of more sequels. The trade pub says it understands that a similar deal could be in place for Ghostbusters, as was previously hinted by Dan Akroyd, though that hasn't been confirmed yet.Well, finally, it seems all the Acti/Blizzard orphans have found good homes. ... Wait a minute, who's that sad, long-haired boy in the corner?
Ask X3F: Riddick-ulous edition
With so many editions of Ask X3F come and gone, one would think that we would have answered them all by now. But no, man is a curious creature, a creature whose thirst for knowledge will not be slaked. Also, it turns out, people just love asking questions about unreleased games. The most recent game-du-semaine is none other than The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. Announced just over a year ago, it missed its projected 2007 release and sank into obscurity. What happened to it? Find our best theory (and feel free to submit your own) after the break Oh, and we answer other questions too.Got a question for Ask X3F? Maybe you have a story or some information you'd like to share? Send it all to ask [at] xbox360fanboy [dawt] com.
Confirmed: Riddick remake is really real
Uncovered last week, the remake of Chronicles of Riddick for new-gen consoles has been confirmed for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. As previously revealed, the game will be titled Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. The game will receive a graphical face-lift and will feature a new single-player episode that takes place after the eponymous escape from Butcher Bay. Not only that, but the game will also feature online multiplayer. We must note, as does Joystiq, that the developer's commentary mode that was hinted at last week is not mentioned in the Sierra press release. Here's hoping it makes it into the final game.Assault on Dark Athena is expected to arrive by the end of the year.[Via Joystiq]
Riddick Remake coming from Starbreeze
According to UK magazine MCV, Starbreeze will be revisiting The Chronicles of Riddick after finishing The Darkness. Pro-G reports that the game, reportedly a remake, will be called The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena and that the game will feature a longer single-player campaign, online multiplayer support, and a developer's commentary mode. Frankly, we really dig the idea of hearing developer commentary as we play. Perhaps this is a feature we might see in more new-gen titles. When Pro-G contacted Vivendi Games for comment, a representative wouldn't provide any details but noted that an announcement is expected soon.Anyone out there excited to fight their way through a retooled Riddick?[Via Joystiq]
