Atari Announces RPG Twist on Classic Franchise PONG Quest

Looking to rival the success of former-owned publisher Namco’s Pac-Man World franchise, Atari has unveiled their role-playing game twist on an iconic franchise with PONG Quest, a new take on the classic tennis game with a story mode, online play and collectibles, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The virtual table tennis game gets a humorous RPG reimagining from original studio and UK-based developer Chequered Ink for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and online storefront Steam. The design duo are known for their work on the PC and mobile titles Spell Worm and Gyro Boss.

PONG Quest will see players control a brave young personified version of the classic game’s paddle as they journey through various dungeons based on other Atari titles including Asteroids, Centipede and more, with the main quest featuring RPG battles that combine classic gameplay with a modern twist.

“PONG as an RPG is something completely unexpected but wonderful in execution,” Jean-Marcel Nicolai, Atari’s chief operating officer, said. “We are thrilled to bring PONG Quest to life to honor the classic IP and bring the beloved gameplay to a new generation of players and RPG fans. Atari has a rich portfolio of titles, and exploring new ways to breathe new life into those IP yields exciting results.”RELATED: New Predator: Hunting Grounds Gameplay Released for Trial WeekendIn addition to the story mode, the game with feature online multiplayer with up to three players, customization options for the paddles and more than 50 PONG ball power-ups that offer unique abilities. The original game was released in 1972 from Atari and is often believed to be the first commercially successful video game that helped jump start the game industry and spawned various sequels and remakes over the past 50 years.

PONG Quest is set to debut this spring on consoles and on Steam for $15.