Tempest 4000 is in development and will be published by Atari

Tempest, for those who are not in the know, is a 1981 Atari game. You are controlling a spaceship, moving from segment to segment, and this all happens on a three-dimensional surface, using vector display technology. The game did get a 1994 remake by Jeff Minter, dubbed Tempest 2000, and the same man is once again at the helm, with Tempest 4000 (ahem).

Why is this happening? No one knows, but the idea of Atari publishing a remake of its old hit at a time when they are actively talking about a new console is definitely newsworthy. Here is what they say about the game:

In Tempest 4000, players are once again in control of the Claw, a powerful spacecraft equipped to destroy deadly creatures and other obstructions with rapid-fire shots on vibrant geometric prisms. With three game modes to choose from and 100 levels to conquer, players must eliminate all enemies as quickly as possible to survive and achieve that coveted spot at the top of the leaderboards.

Minter has reportedly not been on good terms with Atari in 2015, when his TxK shooter was apparently blocked by Atari due to being “too similar to Tempest”. However, today’s story is pretty different. Especially considering that Atari says that they are “thrilled to be able to work with Jeff Minter again, someone who is a legend in the industry and has made a huge impact on the history of video games, to develop this highly-anticipated next installment of the Tempest franchise, updated with today’s technology.”

As long as they sorted it out then, and we can expect a sequel to “a beloved arcade classic with a unique style and intense, edge-of-your-seat gameplay.”