In the near future, Atari will be launching one hell of a reinvention of the arcade classic Asteroids. The company just announced Asteroids: Outpost will be a multiplayer-focused survival game for PC that's launched through Steam's Early Access program. That's a surprise.
Here's how Atari describes Asteroids: Outpost in its press release:
"Set in the distant future, Asteroids: Outpost thrusts players into a harsh deep space environment. While on a massive, unforgiving asteroid, players face the challenges of exploring the asteroid, collecting resources, scavenging for ore, crafting equipment, and expanding their territory as they build highly customized bases - all while forming alliances and fighting off other players in challenging multiplayer gameplay. Recurring showers of smaller asteroids represent a source of wealth and a threat as players shoot down these incoming projectiles to defend their claims and harvest their components."
While we don't have any official screen shots or trailers yet, there is some concept art:
It's being developed by Salty Games, a new studio in Los Angeles made up of "industry veterans" who have reportedly worked on Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Star Trek Online, and others. In most cases, that'd be your standard, PR-friendly material for an announcement.
The final line about Salty Games is what made me curious:
"Salty Games is supported with technical and infrastructure support from Arktos Entertainment Group."
Arktos Entertainment Group might not ring a bell, but how about The War Z, the awful zombie survival game that launched so messed up, it changed its name? Despite The War Z's myriad problems, Arktos acquired a majority stake in the game's developer, Hammerpoint Interactive.
That's who's providing "technical and infrastructure support" for the new Asteroids? Hmm.
It's unclear when this will enter Early Access, but Atari says it's "coming soon."
You can reach the author of this post at patrick.klepek@kotaku.com or on Twitter at @patrickklepek.